The University of Memphis Tigers opened the Mike Norvell era with a 35-17 win over the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks Saturday night at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Norvell is the first Memphis football coach to begin his tenure with a win in 32 years when Rey Dempsey defeated Arkansas State 17-2 in 1984.
When Norvell agreed to become the head coach of the Tigers, he said he was going to bring a fast-paced offense, and he wasn’t kidding.
Memphis began the game with a 9-play, 2:17 scoring drive, capped off by new starting quarterback Riley Ferguson’s 15-yard touchdown pass to freshman running back Darrell Henderson. On the ensuing point-after attempt, wide receiver Anthony Miller lined up at quarterback and threw a pass to tight end Daniel Montiel for a two-point conversion, giving the Tigers an 8-0 lead.
After two Memphis drives resulted in punts, the Tigers got back on the scoreboard on redshirt-junior running back Doroland Dorceus’ three-yard touchdown run to end a six play, 1:58 scoring drive.
Memphis scored their third touchdown in the first quarter via Ferguson’s 13-yard pass to Dorceus, and another 23-yard TD pass from Ferguson to Henderson gave the Tigers a 29-0 lead.
The U of M struggled to get players in the end zone, but kicker Jake Elliott hit two 40-plus yard field goals in the second half.
“Obviously, we came out, started really fast and we were able to move the ball offensively,” Norvell said about his offense’s opening drive. “But it looked like a game one. We turned the ball over three times in the first half, I thought the offense kind of lulled throughout the rest of the game and we have to be ready to play all four quarters.”
Ferguson looked good in stretches, completing 26 out of 40 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns, but he was picked off twice and botched a handoff that resulted in a fumble in the second.
“We went out and executed the plays pretty well in the beginning, but I made some throws that I shouldn’t have thrown,” Ferguson said about his play. “But it’s the first game, and I just need to continue going out there and we will be good.”
However, it was obvious which receiver Ferguson favored most, as redshirt-junior Miller, who was one of Memphis top receivers last season with 47 catches, 694 yards and five touchdowns, led all receivers with nine catches (12 targets) and 103 yards. Redshirt-senior Daniel Hurd had four catches (six targets) and 44 yards, and Henderson had three catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
Ferguson and the offense moved the ball through the air fairly well, but the Tigers had trouble moving the ball on the ground in the first three quarters (28 yards gained on 23 rushes).
However, Dorceus said the offensive line was not at fault. “They stunned us,” he said. “We went over the game plan and their sets before (earlier this week), but they surprised us.” Freshman Patrick Taylor made some big plays in the fourth quarter, including a 51-yard run. He led all Memphis rushers with 86 yards on seven carries. Dorceus ended with 14 attempts, 35 yards and one touchdown.
On defense, the Tigers stifled the Redhawks to 82 total yards (30 rushing, 52 passing) and forced one turnover, an interception by senior cornerback Arthur Maulet, in the first half, but the unit gave up some big plays in the second half, including a 61-yard touchdown run by SEMO senior running back Will Young, and an 82-yard, 7:08 scoring drive to cut Memphis’ lead to 35-17.
Maulet was excellent in the secondary, finishing with three pass breakups and an interception. Junior cornerback Jonathan Cook and junior linebacker Genard Avery both had seven solo tackles while senior defensive linemen Demarco Montgomery and Michael Edwards picked up a sack a piece.
Young led the Redhawks with 17 rushes for 114 yards and one touchdown, and the second half was much better for junior quarterback Jesse Hosket (19-31, 143 yards and one touchdown).
With the win, the Tigers have won three consecutive season openers (63-0 vs. Austin Peay in 2014 and 63-7 vs. Missouri State in 2015). The U of M has a Week 2 bye before they take on the visiting Kansas Jayhawks September 17 at the Liberty Bowl.
