University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
9-1 , 6-1
SMU
6-5 , 3-4
Tigers Win The American West Division Crown
Nov 18, 2017 | Football
Ferguson, Henderson, Taylor Jr. pace the Memphis effort Saturday.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Say it, Tiger Nation, say it.
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The University of Memphis is your American Athletic Conference West Division champion!
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A week-long forecast of rain and a 57-minute lightning delay were not going to halt the Tigers' CLIMB to the divisional title at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday. Senior quarterback Riley Ferguson threw for over 300 yards and the Tigers' ground attack – led by Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor Jr. – paced Memphis to a 66-45 victory before a home crowd of 35,329 that braved the elements.
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The Tigers secured not only The American West Division title but also a spot in the league's championship game Dec. 2. Memphis faces the winner of the Nov. 24 USF-UCF contest, and the site of the title game is to be determined. Championship game time is 11 a.m. (CT) on ABC (LocalMemphis24).
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However, before the title game, Memphis wraps up its 2017 campaign with a home contest against ECU Saturday, Nov. 25. Game time is 11 a.m. (CT) at the Liberty Bowl. Prior to kickoff, Senior Day festivities will take place, honoring this year's class of 21 seniors.
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With a win over the Pirates, Memphis would post its 10th win in a regular season for only the second time in school history. The 1938 team is the last Tigers squad to win 10 games in a regular season. The 2015 team won 10 games, but its 10th victory came in the Miami Beach Bowl.
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| Statistical Leaders | Memphis | SMU |
| Rushing | Darrell Henderson/10 carries-156 yds-2 TD Patrick Taylor Jr./18 carries-112 yds-2 TD |
Xavier Jones/20 carries-177 yds-2 TD |
| Passing | Riley Ferguson/320 yds-2 TD | Ben Hicks/218 yds-4 TD |
| Receiving | Anthony Miller/8 rcpt-163 yds-2 TD | James Proche/4 rcpt-70 yds Trey Quinn/4 rcpt-44 yds-2 TD |
| Tackles | Josh Perry/9 total-5 solo-fumble recovery | Cedric Lancaster/7 total-6 solo |
How It Happened
- Memphis led 31-24 at the break, but SMU had momentum heading into halftime after scoring a touchdown with :03 left in the second quarter.
- The third quarter was one where the teams answered each other's scores.
- The Tigers opened the second-half scoring with a Riley Ferguson eight-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 38-24.
- SMU responded on its next drive and cut the Memphis advantage to 38-31 on a Ben Hicks-to-Raymond Epps 17-yard strike.
- In the back-and-forth third period, the Tigers pushed their lead back to two touchdowns at 45-31 on a Ferguson 12-yard touchdown run.
- SMU closed the quarter and sliced Memphis lead to 45-38 with an Xavier Jones one-yard touchdown plunge.
- Memphis continued to answer the Mustangs early in the fourth quarter when Ferguson hit Anthony Miller from 24 yards out for a 52-38 advantage.
- Then, Mother Nature hit and forced a 57-minute weather delay.
- When the game resumed, the Tigers defense stepped up.
- Memphis forced SMU to 3-and-outs on its next two possessions, and on the Mustangs' third time with the ball after the delay, Genard Avery forced a fumble that Josh Perry recovered.
- The Tigers offense took advantage of the opportunities.
- Following one of the SMU 3-and-outs, a Darrell Henderson 52-yard touchdown scamper increased the lead to 59-38.
- After the fumble recovery, Ferguson hit pay dirt from two yards out for a 66-38 lead, putting the game out of reach. The touchdown run was Ferguson's third of the game, a career-high for the Tigers signal-caller.
- SMU ended the scoring with a touchdown with under four minutes left in the game.
- In the first half, Memphis got off to a rocky start and fell behind SMU 10-0 six minutes into the contest.
- The Tigers answered with 24-straight points to take a 24-10 lead with 10:17 left in the second quarter.
- Memphis maintained its two-score advantage until SMU scored just before the halftime buzzer.
Team Stats
SMU 7, MEM 0
SMU - SUTTON, C. 35 yd pass from HICKS, Ben (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:19
SMU 10, MEM 0
SMU - ROBLEDO, Kevin 27 yd field goal 6 plays, 26 yards, TOP 1:36
SMU 10, MEM 7
MEM - TAYLOR, Patrick 1 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 10 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:57
SMU 10, MEM 10
MEM - PATTERSON, R. 34 yd field goal 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:07
SMU 10, MEM 17
MEM - MILLER, Anthony 34 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (PATTERSON, R. kick) 6 plays, 68 yards, TOP 2:07
SMU 10, MEM 24
MEM - HENDERSON, D. 70 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 1 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:11
SMU 17, MEM 24
SMU - JONES, Xavier 12 yd run (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick), 7 plays, 93 yards, TOP 3:29
SMU 17, MEM 31
MEM - TAYLOR, Patrick 9 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:58
SMU 24, MEM 31
SMU - QUINN, Trey 1 yd pass from HICKS, Ben (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick) 10 plays, 77 yards, TOP 1:39
SMU 24, MEM 38
MEM - FERGUSON, Riley 8 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:41
SMU 31, MEM 38
SMU - EPPS, Raymond 17 yd pass from HICKS, Ben (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick) 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:24
SMU 31, MEM 45
MEM - FERGUSON, Riley 12 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 10 plays, 74 yards, TOP 4:06
SMU 38, MEM 45
SMU - JONES, Xavier 1 yd run (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick), 7 plays, 85 yards, TOP 2:50
SMU 38, MEM 52
MEM - MILLER, Anthony 24 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (PATTERSON, R. kick) 3 plays, 33 yards, TOP 1:04
SMU 38, MEM 59
MEM - HENDERSON, D. 52 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 1 plays, 52 yards, TOP 0:09
SMU 38, MEM 66
MEM - FERGUSON, Riley 2 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 2 plays, 18 yards, TOP 0:46
SMU 45, MEM 66
SMU - QUINN, Trey 27 yd pass from HICKS, Ben (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:46
