Tigers beat Houston, 45-27

Saturday, November 16

Houston, Texas

2:30 p.m. (CT)

University of Memphis

9-1 , 5-1

Houston *

3-7 , 1-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

Houston

Damonte Coxie (10) celebrates one of his two touchdown receptions Saturday against Houston.

Photo by: Erik Williams

Nov 16, 2019 | Football

Box Score Memphis at Houston Gamebook Memphis Overall Stats Postgame Notes

UofM wins fourth straight against Cougars in impressive fashion

By: Phil Stukenborg

HOUSTON – Thirty-one consecutive points.

Just when it appeared the University of Memphis football team might be in for a difficult afternoon against the Houston Cougars Saturday in an American Athletic Conference game at TDECU Stadium, the Tigers put on an impressive offensive display.

During a 22-minute span – after the Tigers had fallen behind 20-14 following a Houston field goal late in the second quarter – UofM quarterback Brady White directed five scoring drives, three ending on White touchdown passes and another capped by a 14-yard TD run by White.

The explosion of offense, and points, led the Tigers to a 45-27 victory, allowing the team to go unbeaten (5-0) against opponents from The American's West Division and remain in solid position for a third straight division title. Overall, the UofM improved to 9-1. The Tigers are 5-1 and tied atop the West Division with SMU and Navy.

"Our kids responded throughout the entire game," said Memphis coach Mike Norvell said. "I'm really proud of our football team."

White completed 22 of 33 passes for 341 yards and a career-high-tying five touchdowns. Receivers Damonte Coxie and Antonio Gibson each caught four passes for 93 yards, with two of Coxie's – and one of Gibson's – resulting in TDs. Calvin Austin III had five receptions for 81 yards and a TD and Kedarian Jones caught six passes for 60 yards.

Running back Kenneth Gainwell narrowly missed the seventh 100-yard rushing game of his freshman season. He finished with 99 yards on 17 carries.

Defensively, the Tigers were able to limit Houston to 256 yards, including only 49 in the second half.

Memphis began its comeback, from a 20-14 deficit, by scoring on White's 14-yard scamper with 3:30 to go in the second quarter. White then capped an 11-play, 98-yard drive with a 16-yard toss to Austin with only 19 seconds left in the first half for a 28-20 advantage.

White continued his assault on the Cougars' defense in third quarter with TD passes of six yards to Gibson and 28 yards to Coxie, giving the Tigers a 42-20 lead. Gibson's TD catch ended a 95-yard drive.

White's outing gives him eight TD passes (and only one interception) in his past eight quarters. For the season, he has thrown 28 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

"Brady is playing at a really high level," Norvell said. "This team, they follow him. He's doing a great job for us and playing with a lot of confidence."

The win was the fourth straight for the Tigers against the Cougars.

"This is a rivalry type game for us," Norvell said. "For our guys to come in here and get a victory I'm really proud of them."

The Tigers have two regular-season games remaining. They play at USF next Saturday and close the regular season at home against Cincinnati on Nov. 29.

NOTABLE

Houston's 256 total yards were the fewest a Cougar team has amassed since they gained 254 against San Diego State in the 2016 Las Vegas Bowl.
Thomas Pickens had his first career sack in the game. It was for a loss of nine yards on Houston's first drive of the second half.
Calvin Austin III had his third career touchdown reception to cap a 98-yard drive that ended the second quarter. Austin had four receptions for 72 yards during the key drive.
Austin was awarded a scholarship by Coach Mike Norvell in the locker room after the game.

Patrick Taylor Jr. returned to the UofM backfield for the first time since being injured in the season-opening win over Ole Miss. He finished with five rushes for 14 yards.