Jake Elliott lifts Memphis past Temple, 16-13

Friday, November 7

Philadelphia, Pa.

6:30 PM

University of Memphis

6-3 , 4-1

Temple

5-4 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

Temple

Nov 07, 2014 | Football

Box Score

Nov. 7, 2014

PHILADELPHIA - Memphis place-kicker Jake Elliott booted a 31-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Tigers to a 16-13 win over Temple. With the program's third straight victory, Memphis became bowl eligible for the first time since 2008.

Elliott's field goal culminated a 12-play, 66-yard drive which consumed the game's final 2:40.

Temple's Austin Jones kicked a 46-yard field goal with 2:46 to play and tied the game at 13-13.

Memphis had managed just 201 yards of total offense through three quarters. But the Tigers perfectly executed the two-minute offense with the possession to get into position for the game-winning field goal.
   Right out of the gate, Paxton Lynch hooked up with Mose Frazier for a a 12-yard completion to spark the series. Frazier, who had a career-high eight catches for 110 yards on the night, also caught a first-down pass for four yards to midfield.

Brandon Hayes would catch a seven-yard pass and Tevin Jones' 12-yard reception to the Temple 31 moved the Tigers into field goal range with 51 seconds to play.

Keiwone Malone would add an 11-yard reception to the 20 before Hayes ran for nine to the 11. A couple runs by Lynch moved the ball to the center of the field for Elliott.

Memphis came back from a 10-0, first-quarter deficit.

Jones capped Temple's first offensive series with a 43-yard field goal and Kenneth Harper would later have a 75-yard scoring run in the quarter. Harper's run was the longest against the Tigers this season.

Temple's opening-drive field goal marked just the second time this season an opponent had scored on its opening series (Cincinnati score a touchdown on its first drive).

The Tigers got on the board in the second quarter after Tevin Jones blocked a punt which was recovered by Frazier at the Temple 31. Elliott would boot a 42-yard field goal.

Temple's next punt by Alex Starzyk went just 16 yards to the Memphis 41 and on first down, Frazier snarred a catch for a 42-yard pickup to the Temple 17. Hayes would later cover that distance with a touchdown catch and Elliott's PAT tied the game at 10-10.

A fumbled punt return by the Owls set the Tigers up for a 27-yard, go-ahead field goal by Elliott with 1:39 to play in the third quarter.

With the three field goals during the game, Elliott moved to seventh in career field goals made. He now has 31 for his career. And with his 10 points scored, Elliott posted his third-straight game with 10-plus points and fifth of the career.

In addition to kicking three field goals against Temple, Elliott had two touchbacks among his four kickoffs. A third Elliott kick was returned out of the end zone for jus a 17-yard gain.

Memphis finished the night with 312 yards of total offense while Temple had 298 yards.

Lynch completed 21-of-28 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown. During the game, the sophomore signal caller surpassed the 2,000-yard season passing mark for a second straight year. Lynch became just the third Memphis quarterback to pass for multiple, 2,000-yard seasons.

Hayes went over the 2,000-yard rushing mark for his career during the game.

Memphis was 3-for-3 on red zone opportunity while the Tigers' defense held the Owls scoreless on two, red zone opportunities.