After the Tigers moved the ball 44 yards down the field, Memphis kicker Jake Elliott lined up for the kick with only 7:35 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Just like his previous two field goal attempts on the day, the ball sailed through the uprights for Memphis to take a 44-41 lead and defeated Bowling Green (1-2) by the same score.
Memphis improved to 3-0 on the season, for the first time since 2004, showing the nation it can battle through plenty of adversity.
Bowling Green, who racked up over 550 yards for the third straight time this season, gave Memphis all it could handle for the majority of the game, as they led 27-17 at halftime.
Falcons’ senior quarterback Matt Johnson, who leads the nation in passing yards, threw for 443 yards and four touchdowns on the day, while rushing for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson connected with sophomore wide receiver Roger Lewis for the touchdown three separate times, including two 62-yard receptions and an impressive 94-yard bomb. Lewis finished with 261 receiving yards and three touchdowns on seven receptions.
Despite Bowling Green's high-powered offense, the Tiger defense was able to get stops when they needed it the most, they held the Falcons scoreless on their final three possessions, and capitalized offensively when they did so.
Paxton Lynch led the way for the Tigers, breaking his career high mark in passing yards in a single game for the second straight week with 386. The junior finished 29 of 40 with three touchdowns on the day.
Junior “do-it-all” running back Sam Craft had an impressive day as well for Memphis, turning a short screen pass into a pivotal 60-yard touchdown. Craft accounted for 50 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Although senior wide receiver Tevin Jones only had three receptions on the day, he scored a very important fourth quarter touchdown, in what could easily be considered the most exciting play of the day.
After a double reverse and a flip back to Lynch, the six-foot-seven quarterback launched a 48-yard pass to Jones for the score, which tied the game 41-41. Jones finished the game with 98 yards.
Though the Tigers looked very impressive offensively, the defense gave up 579 yards and 6 total touchdowns. Moving into conference play, the Tigers will have to get back to the basics to ensure this does not happen again.
Memphis will return to action Thursday at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium to take on conference foe Cincinnati at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN. The Bearcats, who are currently 2-1 on the year, were picked to win the conference, ahead of the Tigers, earlier this preseason.
