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​The Memphis Tigers beat the Bowling Green Falcons 77-3 behind Riley Ferguson’s huge first half.
Ferguson threw for 359 yards and totaled seven touchdowns in the first half as the Tigers jumped out to a 56-3 first half lead. At the half, Memphis had 56 points on 42 offensive plays.Â
Memphis’ defense kept their same takeaway mentality as they have all season. The Tigers had four interceptions, one of which was return 28 yards for a touchdown by Genard Avery.
The Tigers offense faced a tough decision on their first drive, and coach Mike Norvell decided to go for it on fourth and one. Novell’s choice resulted in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Riley Ferguson to Daniel Montiel. Jake Elliot’s extra point put the Tigers up 7-0.
Bowling Green answered with Jake Suder’s 30-yard field goal set up by a 40-yard pass from James Knapke to Marquis Zimmerman.
After the Falcons forced the Memphis offense to punt, Avery intercepted Knapke’s pass for a touchdown on Bowling Green’s first play of the possession.
The next Memphis drive resulted in a 40-yard hookup from Ferguson to Phil Mayhue, and the PAT by Elliot made the score 21-3.
Bowling Green was intercepted on their next two passes, which both led to Memphis touchdowns. Chris Morley caught the first interception that eventually led to Ferguson finding Sam Craft for a 43-yard score. Dontrel Nelson caught the second pick, and one play later Tony Pollard caught a 21-yard touchdown from Ferguson. Elliot stretched the Tigers’ lead to 35-3.
Ferguson capped off the Tigers’ first possession of the second quarter with his first touchdown rush of the season, and Elliot put the Tigers up 42-3.
On the next Memphis drive Ferguson found Anthony Miller on his longest touchdown pass of the night. The 60-yard pass and Elliot’s PAT put Memphis up 49-3.
Ferguson finished the half, and his game, with his sixth touchdown pass. Roderick Proctor caught 31-yard pass and Elliot made the halftime score 56-3.
With the large lead, Norvell decided to rest Ferguson and other starters and slow down the offensive pace.
The Tigers focused on running the ball in the second half and totaled 153 second half rushing yards.
Both third quarter touchdowns came from 3-yard rushed. Doroland Dorceus scored on the first, and Patrick Taylor Jr. scored on the second. Elliot hit both extra points for the 70-3 lead.
Jason Stewart scored the Tigers eleventh, and final, touchdown on a two-yard quarterback keeper. Elliot pushed the final score to 77-3.
Memphis played well on both sides of the ball, but Norvell is still looking for improvement. “The biggest disappointment to me is the nine penalties,†Norvell said. “That’s not who we are.â€
Norvell is also looking for offensive improvement despite the 10 offensive touchdowns. “I thought we played at a pretty good tempo in the first half,†Norvell said. “But we still have to get set so we can play faster.â€
Ferguson, who had part in seven of the touchdowns, spread the ball around, throwing touchdowns to six different players. “I thought our quarterbacks did a good job of going through their progressions,†Norvell said.
“We have a lot of receivers who can make plays for us,†Ferguson said. “The line did an unbelievable job protecting tonight.
Defensively, the Tigers have been able to force turnovers in each game, but in their next game, they face a ranked Ole Miss team. “We have to just continue to prepare and get better,†Morley said. “It’s not about them, it’s about us.â€
After the 74 point win, the Tigers have to prepare for a more talented team in Ole Miss. “We probably play arguably the most talented team in the country,†Norvell said. “We know that there is a great challenge in front of us.â€