Tigers Defeat Houston In Dramatic Fashion

Thursday, October 19

Houston, Texas

7:00 p.m. CT

University of Memphis

6-1 , 3-1

Houston

4-3 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

Houston

Photo by: Erik Williams

Oct 19, 2017 | Football

Box Score Memphis-Houston Statistics/Gamebook Post Game Notes at Houston

Ferguson throws for school-record 471 yards.

HOUSTON, Texas – A shoot-out was expected Thursday night in Houston. The script, though, is one many Tigers fans would have preferred not to go through.

In a game that will go down as one of the largest comebacks in University of Memphis football history, the Tigers spotted American Athletic Conference West Division rival Houston a 17-0 halftime lead and then outscored the Cougars 42-21 in the second half for a dramatic 42-38 victory. The pivotal West Division showdown was played before 30,001 at TDECU Stadium.

The win improved the Tigers to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the American Athletic Conference. With its last two victories over Navy and Houston, Memphis now owns the tie-breaker with both if the division is decided in that fashion at season's end. Houston fell to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the league. The win is Memphis' first in Houston since 2005.

To win a game in this manner, a team needs a herculean effort and timely plays. The Tigers got both Thursday versus the Cougars.

Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson threw for a school-record 471 yards and one touchdown. He accounted for 465 of the team's 501 total yards (471 passing/-6 rushing). In addition, Patrick Taylor Jr. rushed for a program-record four touchdowns, including his final one with 5:14 left to put the Tigers in position to finish the comeback.

The Tigers also came up with big plays to propel them to victory. The first was Tony Pollard's 93-yard kick return for a score to cut the Houston lead to 24-14. The kick-return touchdown is Pollard's third of the season and the fifth of his career.

The defense – which allowed over 550 yards of total offense, but also was out on the field nearly 38 minutes of the game – provided huge plays. A fumble recovery early in the fourth gave Memphis the ball, and the Tigers used that turnover to cut the Houston lead to 31-28.

Then, after grabbing the first lead of the game at 42-38 with just under two minutes left, the Tigers defense came through twice. Freshman TJ Carter was in on both Houston turnovers. The first was a Carter forced fumble that gave Memphis the ball at midfield with :59 left. The next, and final, Carter big play was his fourth interception of the season at the Memphis 39-yard line to seal the win.

Statistical Leaders	Memphis	Houston
Rushing	Patrick Taylor Jr. (14 carries/39 yds/4 TD)	Dillon Birden (21 carries/106 yds/TD)
Passing	Riley Ferguson (33-53/471 yds/TD)	Kyle Postma (29-40/315 yds/TD)
Receiving	Anthony Miller (10 rcpt/178 yds)	Linell Bonner (8 rcpt/121 yds)
Tackles	TJ Carter (14 total/11 solo/INT/ forced fumble)	D'Juan Hines (9 total/7 solo/ forced fumble)

How It Happened

After spotting the Cougars a 17-0 halftime advantage, the Memphis offense got going in the second half.
The Tigers defense stepped up on Houston's opening drive and held the Cougars to a 3-and-out and forced a punt.
Memphis started its first possession of the second half at its own 36 and moved down the field in eight plays for the touchdown. Patrick Taylor Jr. capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run.
Houston extended its lead back to 17 points on its next drive, going 80 yards on 13 plays for a 24-7 advantage.
On the following kickoff, the Memphis return unit – led by Tony Pollard – struck for the third time this season. Pollard took the kickoff at the Tigers 7-yard line and raced 93 yards for the score. The touchdown brought Memphis back to within 10 at 24-14.
After the Cougars scored to push their lead back up to 31-14, the Tigers scored back-to-back touchdowns to close to within three at 31-28 with over 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Taylor Jr.'s nine-yard scamper – his second rushing touchdown of the game – cut the Houston lead to 31-21 just before the end of the third period.
The Tigers defense then got into the act. On Houston's next possession, Tito Windham sacked Cougars QB Kyle Postma and forced a fumble. John Tate recovered the fumble at the Memphis 36-yard line.
Memphis took over and drove 64 yards on nine plays, and Taylor Jr. finished off the drive with a one-yard score.
Just over four minutes later, Houston answered with a touchdown to, once again, push its lead back to double digits at 38-28 with only 6:44 left in the game.
Not giving up, the Tigers responded quickly with a 1:30 drive. Riley Ferguson marched Memphis 77 yards on just five plays. Taylor Jr. capped the drive with his school-record tying fourth rushing touchdown of the game to pull the Tigers to within three at 38-35 with 5:14 on the clock.
After the Memphis defense came up big with a 3-and-out, Houston punted, and the Tigers started the final scoring drive on their own 20 with 3:17 left.
Ferguson directed the Tigers 80 yards on eight plays, culminating in a 21-yard scoring strike to Sean Dykes. Memphis scored with just over 1:30 on the clock.
Houston had two cracks for a game-winning score in the final 1:30, but the Memphis defense forced a fumble and picked off a Kyle Postma pass to secure the win.
The first half was all Houston with the Cougars building a 17-0 lead.
The Cougars scored their first touchdown off a Memphis fumble deep in its own territory. Houston recovered the fumble at the Tigers 28-yard line, and five plays later, was in the end zone for a 7-0 advantage.
Houston added another touchdown in the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.
With just over minute before halftime, the Cougars intercepted a Ferguson pass and set up the Houston offense at the Memphis 40-yard line. The Cougars kicked a field goal with :17 left in the second quarter for a 17-0 lead.