Tigers Post 43-7 Win Over Kansas Saturday

Saturday, September 17

Memphis, Tenn.

11:00 AM

University of Memphis

2-0

Kansas

1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Sep 17, 2016 | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Sights And Sounds Tigers Defeat Kansas Video: Sights and Sounds Game Highlights Photo Gallery Memphis 43, Kansas 7 Post Game Quotes KU vs UM

Memphis defense forces six Jayhawks turnovers.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – So much for a University of Memphis football letdown after the early-season bye date last week.

The Memphis rushing attack pounded out 205 yards, and the Tigers defense had six takeaways to lift the home team to a 43-7 non-conference victory over Kansas, before of crowd of 34,448 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday. The six takeaways were the most by Memphis since 2011 when it also forced six turnovers versus Marshall.

With the win, Memphis improved to 2-0 for a second-straight season. The last time the Tigers began back-to-back campaigns with 2-0 records was in 2003 and 2004. The Jayhawks fell to 1-2.

Tigers freshman Patrick Taylor Jr. led the ground game for a second-straight game, this time rushing for 88 yards on 13 carries. He had a team-high 86 yards in the Sept. 3 season opener. Quarterback Riley Ferguson was 15-of-24 passing for 189 yards and two scores. Anthony Miller led the receiving corps with five receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 19-0 lead and never let up. Memphis' first score came on its second possession of the game when Ferguson hit Miller for an 84-yard touchdown to give the home team a 7-0 lead. The play is tied for the sixth-longest reception in Tigers football history and also is Miller's career-long catch.

After grabbing the 7-0 advantage, the Tigers defense took over.

On Kansas' next three possessions, the Memphis defense recorded two takeaways and forced a 3-and-out. The Jayhawks' first turnover was a fumble at their own 32-yard line that Michael Edwards recovered for the Tigers. Memphis converted that turnover into the first of three Jake Elliott field goals, a 41-yarder for a 10-0 lead. Edwards had a second fumble recovery in the second quarter.

Kansas took its next possession deep into Memphis territory, but Jayhawks quarterback Ryan Willis coughed up the ball. Tigers cornerback Jonathan Cook picked up the loose ball and rambled 50 yards to the Kansas 29. Cook's 50-yard fumble return is the ninth-longest in school history. Four plays later, Elliott kicked a 42-yard field goal for a 13-0 advantage.

In the second quarter, Doroland Dorceus scored on a tough six-yard run for a 19-0 Memphis lead.

The Jayhawks immediately answered with their lone touchdown of the contest. Kansas moved the ball to its own 34 where Khalil Herbert burst through the line and rushed 66 yards for the score.

Memphis added two more touchdowns before halftime to take a 33-7 lead into the locker room. Ferguson tossed his second touchdown of the game, this time a six-yard pass to Phil Mayhue. Then, the Tigers defense got in the scoring column when freshman defensive lineman Jonathan Wilson picked off a Montell Cozart pass and ran it back 61 yards for the score.

After halftime, the Tigers added an Elliott 50-yard field goal and a Tony Pollard eight-yard touchdown run for their final points. It was Elliott's ninth career field goal of 50 yards or more.

Cook, Austin Hall and Chris Morley led the defense with eight tackles each. Hall led the team with two TFL.

Memphis returns to action against Bowling Green Sept. 24. ESPNews is televising the 7 p.m. (CT) match-up from the Liberty Bowl. The game is the Tigers' third-straight home contest to open the 2016 season.