University of Memphis
2-0
#25 UCLA
2-1
Tigers Football Upsets No. 25 UCLA Saturday
Sep 16, 2017 | Football
Riley Ferguson throws for 398 yards, career-high-tying six TDs.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Oops, the University of Memphis football team did it again. For the third season in a row, the Tigers used the same recipe to craft an upset.
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An 11 a.m. CT Saturday morning kickoff: Check.
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Home game at the Liberty Bowl: Check.
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A ranked opponent: Check.
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A national television audience on ABC: Check.
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A Memphis victory: Check.
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In a quarterback shootout battle for the ages, Tigers signal-caller Riley Ferguson stayed step-for-step with UCLA's Josh Rosen in leading the home squad to a 48-45 upset victory over the No. 25 Bruins. Memphis won the game before a crowd of 46,291 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.Â
Ferguson finished the contest with 398 yards and a career-high tying six touchdown passes. Rosen was just as good, throwing for 463 yards and four scores.
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It is the third year in a row that Memphis has pulled an upset over a ranked foe in the Liberty Bowl. In 2014, the Tigers defeated No. 12 Ole Miss 37-24. Last season, Memphis posted a come-from-behind 48-44 win over No. 18 Houston at home. Today, and for a third-straight year, the Tigers recorded a win over a ranked opponent – No. 25 UCLA –at home. And, all three games were televised to a national audience on ABC.
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Memphis-UCLA Statistical Leaders
| Stat | Memphis | UCLA |
| Rushing | Darrell Henderson: 105 yards | Bo Olorunfunmi: 77 yards |
| Passing | Riley Ferguson: 398 yards/6 TD | Josh Rosen: 463 yards/4 TD |
| Receiving | Anthony Miller: 185 yards/2 TD | Darren Andrews: 175 yards/TD |
How It Happened
- The contest was a back-and-forth affair all afternoon with six lead changes, including two in the final quarter.
- The Tigers had a 27-24 halftime lead and remained in front until early in the fourth quarter.
- A second Ferguson-to-Miller TD connection extended the Tigers' 27-24 halftime lead to 34-24 with 11:03 left in the third quarter.
- The Bruins struck back quickly with an Andrews' 65-yard TD strike from Rosen to bring UCLA back to within three at 34-31 with 10:16 left in the third.
- Tigers redshirt freshman Tim Hart intercepted a Rosen pass midway through the third period and returned it 60 yards for a score, pushing the Memphis advantage back to 10 at 41-31.
- UCLA quickly countered just over a minute later with a Rosen-to-Jordan Lasley 21-yard scoring strike to pull to within three again at 41-38.
- The Bruins used another TD connection from Rosen to Austin Roberts to regain the lead at 45-41 with 11:51 left in the fourth quarter. It was UCLA's first lead since 24-20 with four minutes left before halftime.
- Two minutes later, Memphis jumped back on top 48-45 when Ferguson connected on his sixth TD toss of the game, this time to Phil Mayhue from three yards out.
- From there, the Memphis defense held. With UCLA driving in Tigers' territory, T.J. Carter intercepted a Rosen pass at the 10-yard line and returned it near midfield.
- After an unsuccessful fake FG attempt by Memphis, the Tigers defense was called on again. This time, Memphis halted a UCLA drive on downs.
- Earlier in the contest, the teams were feeling each other out and managed only one TD apiece for a 7-all tie at the end of the first quarter.
- Action picked up in the second period with the visitors from Westwood going out to a 17-7 lead on a JJ Molson 33-yard FG and Rosen's first TD toss of the game.
- Memphis answered with the game's next two TD from the arm of Ferguson. He hit Patrick Taylor Jr. for a 47-yard score and then found Tony Pollard from 42 yards out for a 20-17 Tigers' lead.
- Rosen scored via the ground with 1:22 left before halftime, crossing the goal line from one yard out for a Bruins 24-20 lead.
- Memphis responded 40 seconds later with a Ferguson-to-Miller 33 yard score to take a 27-24 lead into halftime and set up a wild second half.
Up Next
The Tigers host Southern Illinois Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. (CT) at the Liberty Bowl. The game is Memphis' Homecoming contest.
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Team Stats
UCLA 0, MEM 7
MEM - MAGNIFICO, Joey 2 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (SMITH, Spencer kick) 2 plays, 91 yards, TOP 0:26
UCLA 7, MEM 7
UCLA - Starks, Jalen 7 yd run (Molson, JJ kick), 5 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:56
UCLA 10, MEM 7
UCLA - Molson, JJ 33 yd field goal 13 plays, 56 yards, TOP 3:51
UCLA 17, MEM 7
UCLA - Wilson, Jordan 5 yd pass from Rosen, Josh (Molson, JJ kick) 2 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:33
UCLA 17, MEM 13
MEM - TAYLOR, Patrick 47 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (PATTERSON, R. kickfailed) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:58
UCLA 17, MEM 20
MEM - POLLARD, Tony 42 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (SMITH, Spencer kick) 6 plays, 95 yards, TOP 1:53
UCLA 24, MEM 20
UCLA - Rosen, Josh 1 yd run (Molson, JJ kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:20
UCLA 24, MEM 27
MEM - MILLER, Anthony 33 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (SMITH, Spencer kick) 3 plays, 72 yards, TOP 0:35
UCLA 24, MEM 34
MEM - MILLER, Anthony 12 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (SMITH, Spencer kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:57
UCLA 31, MEM 34
UCLA - Andrews, Darren 65 yd pass from Rosen, Josh (Molson, JJ kick) 2 plays, 64 yards, TOP 0:44
UCLA 31, MEM 41
MEM - HART, Tim 60 yd interception (PATTERSON, R. kick)
UCLA 38, MEM 41
UCLA - Lasley, Jordan 21 yd pass from Rosen, Josh (Molson, JJ kick) 5 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:23
UCLA 45, MEM 41
UCLA - Roberts, Austin 22 yd pass from Rosen, Josh (Molson, JJ kick) 6 plays, 99 yards, TOP 2:17
UCLA 45, MEM 48
MEM - MAYHUE, Phil 3 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (PATTERSON, R. kick) 4 plays, 81 yards, TOP 1:49
