Lynch, Hayes Lead Memphis Past USF, 31-20

Saturday, November 22

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

3:00 PM

University of Memphis

8-3 , 6-1

USF

4-7 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

USF

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Nov 22, 2014 | Football

Box Score

Nov. 22, 2014

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Sophomore quarterback Paxton Lynch scored using his feet and his arm as he led the Tigers to a 31-20 victory against USF on Saturday afternoon.

Lynch scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and two more through the air, making him responsible for all four touchdowns the Tigers scored on the afternoon. He is now responsible for 35 touchdowns in his career, moving him past Steve Matthews (1992-93), Billy Fletcher (1963-65), and Dave Casinelli (1960-63) for sixth all-time.

Senior defensive end Martin Ifedi's sack in the fourth quarter gave him 22.5 for his career, breaking the program record Tramont Lawless (1996-99) had held.

Memphis started the game from its own 25 after receiving the opening kick. A 47-yard run from Brandon Hayes brought the ball down to the South Florida 30, but a penalty stalled the drive and forced a field goal attempt. Jake Elliott's kick from 45 yards missed wide right.

USF took over at its own 27 and drove down the field using a couple of big third down completions. The Bulls had first down and goal from the five, but the Tigers defense stiffened and forced South Florida to settle for a 21-yard field goal.

Memphis responded on its next drive, taking the ball nine plays and 75 yards in just over three minutes. The drive was helped along after a roughing the passer penalty call against the Bulls on a play where Lynch hit Keiwone Malone for 15 yards. The call put the ball on the 25 yard line in USF territory. After a two-yard loss, Lynch broke off a 24-yard rush that, after review, was placed at the one. Lynch would take it in himself on the next play for six. After Elliott added the PAT, it was Memphis 7, USF 3.

The second USF possession brought a quarterback change, as Quinto Flowers took over for Mike White. White would return on third down, but the Bulls were only able to pick up four yards on the drive and had to punt it away.

The UofM took over at its own 44 with 2:41 remaining in the first quarter and would methodically drive down the field before scoring on the final play of the quarter. Hayes took it to midfield on the first play, and then Lynch found Alan Cross for 18 yards. Hayes took it seven yards on the next two plays, and then 12 more a couple of plays later. Lynch finished the drive by rushing it in from the five. Elliott's extra point made it 14-3 Memphis.

It didn't take USF long to respond, as the first play of the second quarter, following a touchback, was a 75-yard touchdown run from Marlon Mack, making it 14-10.

The lead would only stay within four for a minute and a half, as Memphis took it right down the field. Lynch found Adrian Henderson for 24 yards on the second play of the drive. After a six-yard rush from Hayes, Lynch hit Mose Frazier for 42 yards and the touchdown, bringing the score to 21-10.

USF's next possession was a long one. It spanned 16 plays and 8:03 of game clock, but only resulted in another field goal. Memphis had an opportunity to cut the drive short early on, but a personal foul for a horse collar tackle negated what was a drive-ending sack on third down. After Marvin Kloss knocked his second field goal through, it was 21-13. That was the last points USF would muster until just a few minutes remained.

At the break, Memphis had outgained USF 288-213, and had earned four more first downs than its opponents. Hayes rushed for 102 yards in the first half, his second time to break the century mark this season. Lynch had 38 yards rushing himself, including two touchdowns. He also had 149 yards and a TD through the air.

The Memphis defense forced three fumbles in the half, but was unable to turn any of them into turnovers.

The second half began with USF taking over at its own 19. After a few first downs, the drive stalled and the Bulls punted from midfield . The two teams would then have back-to-back three and outs. USF's came inside its own five after Nick Jacobs' punt was downed inside the one.

The resulting USF punt gave Memphis ideal position at the Bulls' 27, and the Tigers would take advantage in two plays. Lynch hit Mayhue for 16 yards to the 11, and then he found Hayes for the touchdown to make it 28-13.

USF got it into Memphis territory on its next drive, getting it all the way down inside the five for first down and goal. Once again, the Tiger defense bent but didn't break, forcing a one-yard loss on first and goal. On second down, Ryan Coleman sacked Mike White. On third down USF tried a reverse, but Jackson Dillon sniffed it out and knocked the ball loose. This time Memphis was able to recover, as Donald Pennington jumped on it at the 16.

Two minutes remained in the third quarter as Memphis took over with momentum and the scoreboard in its favor. Hayes broke off a 15 yard run on the first play, and then Lynch found Frazier for 31 yards. All of a sudden, Memphis was threatening USF again. Fourteen yards worth of carries from Hayes later, the quarter ended with Memphis 15 yards from extending the lead.

The fourth quarter started with the Tigers in promising position, but a false start and a three yard pass meant the UofM would have to settle for three. Elliott was on target with his third attempt of the day, knocking it through from 35 yards out.

After a couple of punts, USF received the ball at its own 26 with just a little more than 10 minutes to go. Five plays later and the Bulls were in Memphis territory threatening to score and make it an interesting game. However, Ricky Hunter and Martin Ifedi put together back-to-back sacks to push USF out of Memphis territory and eventually force a punt. Ifedi's lone sack of the afternoon moved him into first in the program's career sack list.

Memphis went three and out after a few runs from Hayes, giving USF the ball back with five minutes to play. After an injury to White, Steven Bench had to come in and try to continue the drive for the Bulls. He did just that, leading them down the field for a touchdown on fourth down from the nine with 1:14 remaining. After the kick, the score was 31-20 with an onside kick upcoming.

Kloss' onside kick attempt went the required 10 yards, but Alan Cross came up and recovered for the Tigers. After a couple of kneel downs in victory formation, Memphis had defeated the Bulls 31-20.

USF had more first downs than the Tigers, but Memphis outgained the Bulls 470-396. On the ground, Memphis held a 238-95 advantage, despite only rushing the ball four more times. Hayes finished with 189 yards on the ground, and also had 18 yards receiving with a touchdown. Lynch finished with 232 yards passing and two touchdowns, while adding 44 yards and a pair of TDs on the ground as well.

Next up for Memphis is senior day and the regular season finale. The Tigers welcome Connecticut to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium for a 3 p.m. kickoff next Saturday.