Genard Avery (6) returns an interception 28 yards for a touchdown. In addition to the interception, Avery finished with four total tackles in the Tigers’ 77-3 rout of Bowling Green.
During the first two games of the season, the University of Memphis football team outscored their opponents 78-24. However, what happened Saturday night was quite unexpected.
The Memphis Tigers defeated the visiting Bowling Green Falcons 77-3 in record-setting fashion. With the win, Memphis now has gone 3-0 in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1927-28.
The team scored 35 points in the first quarter for the first time since 1992 against Tulane. Memphis also scored 56 points in the first half, which tied a program record set during last year’s game against SMU, and they also eclipsed the 70-point mark for the first time since Sept. 30, 1950.
With their victory, the U of M now holds the record for most points scored in an American Athletic Conference football game – the previous record was 72 – and set a school record for most points against an FBS opponent. However, the program fell short of the school’s largest recorded win ever (115-0 win against Somerville High School in 1916).
The star of the show was Riley Ferguson, who went 20 for 27 with 359 yards passing and 7 total touchdowns and was named the AAC player of the week. Ferguson threw six touchdown passes to six different receivers in the first half (one short of Paxton Lynch’s seven versus SMU last year) and ran for a seventh score in the second half. Ferguson posted a 259.1 quarterback rating as well, his highest of the season.
The Tigers accounted for over 600 yards of total offense for the first time since 2015 at Kansas, and 11 different Tigers scored one touchdown apiece during the rout.
After failing to eclipse the 50-yard rushing mark in his first two games, starting running back Doroland Dorceus rushing for 117 yards on nine carries and scored his third touchdown of the season. Meanwhile, freshman Patrick Taylor continued his hot form, carrying the ball five times for 45 yards and one touchdown.
Junior wide receiver Anthony Miller led all receivers with 77 yards on three catches and took a 60-yard catch for a touchdown.
With their 77-point performance against Bowling Green, Memphis now has the nation’s fifth highest scoring offense at 51.7 points per game; meanwhile, the Tiger defense is currently second in the nation in points allowed, surrendering just nine points per game. Additionally, the Tigers rank 25th in run defense, 26th in pass defense and 16th in total defense nationally.
Ferguson currently ranks 26th nationally with 281 passing yards per game, and his 11 touchdowns rank tied for second nationally among quarterbacks who have only played three games.
Miller currently ranks fifth in the AAC in receiving yards per game with 91 to go along with his 17 catches and two touchdowns.
The Tigers will take their high-powered offense and defense on the road for the first time this season Saturday to Oxford to take on No. 16 Ole Miss. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on either ESPN2, ESPNU or SECN+.
