University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
5-2 , 2-1
#24/25 Navy
5-1 , 4-0
Tigers Football Falls To No. 24/25 Navy Saturday
Oct 22, 2016 | Football
Pollard sets school record in contest vs. the Mids.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – University of Memphis junior quarterback Riley Ferguson threw for over 300 yards for the third time this season and freshman Tony Pollard set a school record, but it wasn't enough as the Tigers dropped a 42-28 decision to No. 24/25 Navy Saturday afternoon.
With the setback, Memphis fell to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the American Athletic Conference. The Midshipmen improved to 5-1 overall and remained perfect in league play at 4-0.
Ferguson was 25-of-40 passing for 333 yards and two touchdowns. The 333 yards was his third-highest output of the season. The two-touchdown game was his fourth of 2016. Ferguson's favorite target Saturday was Anthony Miller, who piled up a season-high 134 receiving yards on nine catches. Miller had one touchdown reception. The 100-yard receiving game was his third of the season and sixth of his career.
Pollard, who broke the Tigers' 20-year drought of a kick return for a touchdown versus Temple Oct. 6, struck again against Navy in the first quarter. After the Mids tied the contest 7-7, Pollard took the kickoff and raced 100 yards for the score to put Memphis back in front 14-7. Pollard's 100-yard kick return is the longest in program history, and his two kick returns for touchdowns are the most for a season and a career in school history.
After that, the Navy rushing attack took control. The Mids, who had nearly 40 minutes of possession time in the contest, scored the game's next three touchdowns to take a 28-14 lead early in the third quarter.
The Tigers, though, did not go away. Ferguson engineered an 82-yard drive, capped by a nine-yard scoring toss to Daniel Hurd, to cut the Navy advantage to 28-21 with six minutes to go in the third quarter.
Navy had an answer again. The Mids extended their lead back to two scores at 35-21 on Will Worth's 18-yard strike to Tyler Carmona as time expired in the third quarter.
Memphis responded with a 70-yard scoring drive that ended with a Patrick Taylor Jr. seven-yard touchdown run, cutting the Navy lead to 35-28. Memphis got a chance to tie the game when Navy missed a field goal attempt with 5:40 left. The Tigers were driving, but a turnover gave the ball back to the Mids with just over three minutes left.
Navy scored its last touchdown, a Worth one-yard run, to take a 42-28 lead with 2:01 left and put the contest out of reach.
Memphis returns to action Saturday, Oct. 29 for its Homecoming game against Tulsa at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m. (CT), and ESPNews is televising the contest.
Team Stats
MEM 7, NAVY 0
MEM - MILLER, Anthony 33 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (ELLIOTT, Jake kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:34
MEM 7, NAVY 7
NAVY - WHITE, Shawn 4 yd run (MOEHRING, B kick), 11 plays, 65 yards, TOP 5:56
MEM 14, NAVY 7
MEM - POLLARD, Tony 100 yd kickoff return (ELLIOTT, Jake kick)
MEM 14, NAVY 14
NAVY - TILLMAN, Jamir 15 yd pass from WORTH, Will (MOEHRING, B kick) 10 plays, 61 yards, TOP 5:35
MEM 14, NAVY 21
NAVY - WORTH, Will 3 yd run (MOEHRING, B kick), 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:11
MEM 14, NAVY 28
NAVY - WORTH, Will 4 yd run (MOEHRING, B kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:46
MEM 21, NAVY 28
MEM - HURD, Daniel 9 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (ELLIOTT, Jake kick) 13 plays, 82 yards, TOP 3:32
MEM 21, NAVY 35
NAVY - CARMONA, Tyler 18 yd pass from WORTH, Will (MOEHRING, B kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:42
MEM 28, NAVY 35
MEM - TAYLOR, Patrick 7 yd run (ELLIOTT, Jake kick), 4 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:04
MEM 28, NAVY 42
NAVY - WORTH, Will 1 yd run (MOEHRING, B kick), 5 plays, 43 yards, TOP 1:38
