Memphis outlasts Temple, sets school records

The University of Memphis football team (4-1) opened their conference season with a 34-27 win against the visiting Temple Owls (3-3) at the Liberty Bowl.

Memphis overcame an early 13-0 deficit and scored 27 unanswered points in two quarters and solidified the win.

“Offensively, we had a couple of setbacks,†U of M head coach Mike Norvell said. “(Temple has) a good defensive front and were able to get penetration, and we just couldn’t get a rhythm.â€

The Tigers broke several records during their matchup against the Owls.

Senior K Jake Elliot passed DeAngelo Williams and Stephen Gostkowski on the program’s all-time scoring leader list with 371 points, and freshman WR Tony Pollard broke a 233-game record with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers, who are coming off a 48-28 loss last Saturday to #16 Ole Miss Rebels, were 14-26 overall in conference openers, and tonight’s win gives the program three-straight conference openers for the first time since 1989-91 when the Tigers were a member of the Metro Conference.

Junior LB Genard Avery was a force to be reckoned with, recording a team high eight tackles, one sack and an interception return for a touchdown (his second of the season).

On offense, junior QB Riley Ferguson completed 17-out-of-26 passes for 174 yards. Senior RB Doroland Dorceus gained 95 yards on only seven carries, including a career long 71-yard scamper for a touchdown. Junior WR Phil Mayhue led all Tigers receivers with 84 yards on six catches.

The U of M, who had been so dominant offensively to start off the season, stalled against the Owls. In the first quarter, the U of M gained 14 yards on 12 plays and no first downs.

Meanwhile, the Owls opened the game with a pair of field goals in their first three drives. If it weren’t for Memphis’ defense, however, both scores could’ve ended up being touchdowns.

The second quarter was a tad better for the U of M but the Tigers entered the locker room with a 13-3 deficit, 111 total offensive yards (compared to Temple’s 190 and 9:45 time of possession. Senior K Jake Elliot nailed a 19-yard field goal to end the quarter after missing a 34 yarder earlier in the game.

“We knew we deferred the kickoff and that we were going to get the ball back in the second half,†Norvell said. “We decided, ‘Let’s get these points and then make adjustments.’â€

In the third quarter, the Tigers found life when Elliot hit a 42-yard field goal, Dorceus reeled off a career long 71-yard touchdown run and Avery returned an interception for a touchdown to give Memphis a 20-13 lead. Dorceus passed Punkin Williams for number 18 on the Tigers all-time rushing list with the scamper.

Freshman RB Darrell Henderson added a 28-yard touchdown run, his first of the year, in the fourth quarter, and Elliot hit the extra point 27-13. With the kick, Elliot passed Stephen Gostkowski as the all-time scoring leader in program history with 370 points.

Temple senior RB Jahad Thomas scored on a 61-yard touchdown pass to cut Memphis’ lead 27-20, but the Tigers responded with a Pollard 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to increase their lead, 34-20. In the dying seconds, senior CB Chauncey Lanier picked off QB Phillip Walker to seal the game.

The Owls entered the match ranked in the top-10 nationally in running the ball, with 317.8 rushing yards per game, and stopping the run, with 77.8 rushing yards allowed per game. Memphis’ defense held Temple to 86 yards rushing while the offense added 149 of their own.

“This game shows that we have a really good football team,†Norvell said. “But we have to continue to build and continue to get better.â€