Tigers Post Win Over Tulane Friday

Friday, October 27

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 p.m. CT

University of Memphis

7-1 , 4-1

Tulane

3-5 , 1-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tulane

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Oct 27, 2017 | Football

Box Score Memphis-Tulane Gamebook (PDF)Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes

2017 seniors are winningest four-year class in program history.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The cold and rain could not place a damper on the University of Memphis football celebration at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Friday night.

The Tigers reveled not only because their 56-26 American Athletic Conference win over Tulane improved the season record to 7-1 overall, but the victory also made the 2017 seniors the winningest four-year class in program history with their 34^th win (34-13 record). The 2017 four-year seniors surpassed the previous record of 33 wins by the 1963 four-year class (1960-63; 33-5-1 record).

Memphis rolled out to a 35-0 lead and held off a Green Wave rally to secure the win. The victory kept the Tigers at the top of the conference's West Division with a 4-1 league mark.

While the Tigers offense cranked out big plays in the first half to build its advantage, the Memphis defense rose to the occasion throughout the contest. The Tigers defense held Tulane to 122 yards rushing, the Green Wave's lowest ground output of the season (previous low was 191 yards at Navy Sept. 9). Memphis tied a school record for sacks (7) and set season-highs for TFL (13), sack yardage (52) and TFL yardage (73). The Tigers defense also got into the scoring mix in the fourth quarter when Austin Hall fell on a fumble in the end zone.

Statistical Leaders	Memphis	Tulane
Rushing	Darrell Henderson/10 carries-112 yds	Dontrell Hilliard/19 carries-67 yds
Passing	Riley Ferguson/298 yds-3 TD	Jonathan Banks/203 yds-3 TD
Receiving	Anthony Miller/6 rcpt-TD	Darnell Moody/4 rcpt-TD
Tackles	Austin Hall/11 solo-2.0 TFL-fumble recovery for TD	Chase Kuerschen/7 solo-1 PBU

How It Happened

Memphis used its big-play offense in the first half, scoring four of its five first-half touchdowns from 35 or more yards out.
Tony Pollard got Memphis on the board first with a career-long 58-yard scoring scamper with 10:42 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers scored their "shortest" touchdown of the first half on a 16-yard Riley Ferguson-to-Anthony Miller strike for a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Memphis continued to rack up the big plays in the second quarter, scoring on plays of 82 (Darrell Henderson run), 38 (Ferguson to Sean Dykes pass) and 37 (Ferguson to Kedarian Jones pass) yards.
Henderson's run and Dykes' reception were career-bests.
With under five minutes left in the second quarter, Tulane made a push.
Jonathan Banks was responsible for the Green Wave's two late scores. He hit pay dirt from four yards out to get Tulane on the board, and then hit Charles Jones on a seven-yard pass play at the halftime buzzer.
Memphis led 35-12 at halftime.
Banks found Jones again after the break – this time from six yard out – for the game's lone score in the third quarter. The touchdown pulled the Green Wave to within 35-19.
The Green Wave looked to get closer early in the fourth quarter. Tulane began a drive inside its own 15-yard line and lost yardage back to its own 3. On a 3^rd-and-19 play, a Green Wave miscue left the ball on the ground in the end zone, and Austin Hall recovered the fumble for a Tigers' touchdown and a 42-19 advantage.
A Tulane score cut the Memphis lead to 42-26, but the Green Wave got no closer.
Ferguson closed the Tigers' scoring with back-to-back rushing touchdowns for the 56-26 final.