Tigers Football Defeats Tulsa 41-14 Friday

Friday, November 3

Tulsa, Okla.

7:00 p.m. CT

University of Memphis

8-1 , 5-1

Tulsa

2-8 , 1-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

Tulsa

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Nov 03, 2017 | Football

Box Score Memphis vs. Tulsa Postgame Notes Memphis-Tulsa Gamebook/Stats

Defense shines with second-half shutout.

TULSA, Okla. – And, so the climb continues.

Behind a second-half shutout thrown by the defense and steady performances from Riley Ferguson and Darrell Henderson, the University of Memphis football took another step toward claiming the American Athletic Conference West Division title with a 41-14 road victory at Tulsa Friday night.

With the win, Memphis continues to control its own destiny in the league's West Division with a 5-1 conference mark and an 8-1 overall record. The Tigers now take their "officially" scheduled bye week Nov. 11 before returning to action for its final two games of the season, with both at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The first of the two home games is Nov. 18 against SMU, which is just behind the Tigers in the West Division standings with a 3-1 record.

Ferguson threw for four touchdowns – each to a different receiver – and 298 yards and no interceptions. Henderson logged his second-straight 100-yard rushing game, this time amassing 123 yards on 14 carries. In last week's win over Tulane, Henderson had 112 yards.

But, it was the defense that shined at H.A. Chapman Stadium Friday, especially in the second half. After giving up nearly 250 yards of total offense in the opening half, the Tigers defense clamped down on the Golden Hurricane after halftime. Memphis held Tulsa to no points and 59 total yards on 26 offensive plays for a 2.3 yards-per-play average in the third and fourth periods. Memphis allowed five or fewer yards on four of Tulsa's six second-half possessions, including three 3-and-outs.

Statistical Leaders	Memphis	Tulsa
Rushing	Darrell Henderson/14 carries-123 yds	D'Angelo Brewer/21 carries-119 yds
Passing	Riley Ferguson/298 yds-4 TD	Luke Skipper/157 yds
Receiving	Darrell Henderson/6 rec-50 yds-TD Phil Mayhue/4 rec-74 yds	Keenen Johnson/7 rec-36 yds
Tackles	Curtis Akins/6 total-0.5 TFL Austin Hall/6 total-PBU Tim Hart/6 total-1.0 TFL	Cooper Edmiston/10 total McKinley Whitfield/8 total-PBU

How It Happened

The Tigers led 21-14 at halftime and received the second-half opening kickoff.
Memphis took the first possession and was "un-Tigers-like" on it, putting together a 17-play, 90-yard scoring drive that ate up 6:23 off the clock. The drive, in terms of number of plays, was the longest of the season for Memphis. The 6:23 time of possession was second only to a 7:23 drive vs. Connecticut Oct. 6.
The score came on a Patrick Taylor Jr. one-yard run and gave Memphis a two-touchdown lead at 28-14.
In the first half, every time Memphis scored, then Tulsa answered.
The Tigers defense, though, answered the bell and halted the Golden Hurricane's first possession after only four plays for -1 yard.
Although Memphis did not score on its next possession, the Tigers defense was in a zone and stopped the Golden Hurricane on their next drive in three plays that amassed only five yards.
Memphis added a Riley Patterson 33-yard field goal for its final points of the third quarter and a 31-14 lead heading into the fourth period.
The Tigers added a Riley Ferguson-to-Damonte Coxie nine-yard strike and another Patterson field goal for their final points of the game.
The Memphis defense continued its strong play in the fourth quarter, holding Tulsa to 41 yards on 16 plays.
The first half looked as if the entire game was going to be a shootout, as when Memphis scored, Tulsa had a response.
The Tigers went up first midway through the first quarter when Ferguson hit Henderson on a 17-yard wheel route out of the backfield for a 7-0 lead.
Tulsa tied the contest at 7-all four minutes later when quarterback Luke Skipper hit pay dirt from 10 yards out.
Before the end of the first period, Memphis retook the lead at 14-7 on a Ferguson-to-Tony Pollard 59-yard touchdown connection.
Again, the Golden Hurricane answered, and this time, Tulsa quarterback Chad President took it in from seven yards out for the tying score.
Memphis pushed ahead again at 21-14 midway through the second quarter on a Ferguson-to-Anthony Miller 18-yard strike.
The Tigers took that lead into halftime.