Tigers outlast SMU, 28-18, behind Taylor, Magnifico

Friday, November 16

Dallas, Texas

8:00 p.m. CT

University of Memphis

7-4 , 4-3

SMU

5-6 , 4-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

SMU

Tigers RB Patrick Taylor rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns against SMU.

Photo by: George Walker

Tigers outlast SMU, 28-18, behind Taylor, Magnifico

Nov 17, 2018 | Football

Box Score Memphis 28, SMU 18 Memphis postgame notes

Duo scores two TDs each to move UofM closer to title game return

DALLAS – The drive for another trip to the American Athletic Conference title game remained alive for the University of Memphis.

Friday night at SMU, the Tigers rebounded from a sluggish first half to knock off SMU, 28-18. Running back Patrick Taylor rushed for 112 yards and two second-half touchdowns to lead the UofM, while tight end Joey Magnifico caught one of his two TD receptions in the second half.

Memphis (7-4, 4-3 American) will earn its second-straight title game appearance if it defeats Houston next Friday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers never trailed after taking a 7-3 lead in the second quarter on the first of Magnifico's TDs.

Taylor boosted the UofM's lead to 14-5 shortly after halftime when he broke three tackles en route to a 9-yard scoring run. Darrell Henderson started the 65-yard scoring drive by rushing 35 yards.

Although SMU (5-6, 4-3) trimmed the Memphis lead to 14-12 with 1:22 to go in the third period on a 31-yard TD reception by James Proche, the Tigers quickly responded to put some distance between them and the Mustangs. Magnifico pushed the UofM lead back to nine (21-12) on a 9-yard TD catch with 13:19 to go.

Taylor added his second TD midway through the half on a 2-yard run.

SMU's Proche closed the scoring with another touchdown reception a few minutes later. He ended the night with 12 catches for 134 yards.

Memphis finished with 434 total yards. SMU had 366. Tiger quarterback Brady White completed 18 of 31 passes for 226 yards and the two TDs to Magnifico.

The Tigers led, 7-5, at the half, overcoming a disadvantage in time of possession by winning the first-half turnover battle. The UofM forced two turnovers, one of which led to the half's only touchdown.

Memphis got the TD early in the second quarter when White's pass was caught over two defenders in the end zone by tight end Magnifico. The score erased a 3-0 lead by the Mustangs, who got their points on a 21-yard first-quarter field goal by Kevin Robledo.

SMU got its other points late in the second quarter when Taylor was tackled in the Memphis end zone for a safety.

The Tigers outgained the Mustangs, 184-174, in total yards before halftime. The UofM defense limited SMU to 21 rushing yards. Because of their more than eight-minute advantage in time of possession (19:07 to 10:53) in the first half, the Mustangs ran 47 plays to the UofM's 34.

The Memphis offense was hampered by the loss of Damonte Coxie to an injury in the first half and by 109 penalty yards. SMU was penalized only once for eight yards.