Tigers beat USF, earn 10th win

Saturday, November 23

Tampa, Fla.

3:00 pm CT

University of Memphis

10-1 , 6-1

USF *

4-7 , 2-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

USF

Patrick Taylor Jr. (6) scored three touchdowns in the Tigers' 49-10 win over USF.

Photo by: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 23, 2019 | Football

Box Score Memphis Overall Statistics Memphis at USF Gamebook Memphis at USF Game Notes

Patrick Taylor paces offense with three rushing touchdowns

TAMPA, Fla. – Patrick Taylor Jr. not only has returned to the University of Memphis backfield, he has rejoined a party that has become the 2019 season.

On the verge of a historical run – the 18^th-ranked Tigers could win 11 games for the first time with a victory Friday in their regular-season finale against Cincinnati – the UofM has bolstered its running game with Taylor's return. Saturday at UCF, the Tigers got victory No. 10 – a 49-10 American Athletic Conference win over the Bulls -- behind an offense that Taylor aided with 95 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Taylor was injured in the opener against Ole Miss and returned last weekend against Houston, but Saturday against UCF he displayed the ability that made him a 1,000-yard rusher last season.

With the win, the Tigers became a 10-win team for the second time under Mike Norvell and for the third time since 2014. With a victory Friday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium against nationally ranked Cincinnati, the Tigers (10-1, 6-1 American) will clinch their third straight West Division title.

Taylor had two touchdown runs (3 and 5 yards) in the first half and a 10-yard run in the third quarter. He gained his yards on a team-high 17 carries. Freshman Kenneth Gainwell, who became the starter when Taylor was injured, finished with 128 yards on 14 rushes.

The Tigers trailed 7-0 and 10-7 in the opening quarter before scoring the game's final 42 points behind quarterback Brady White, who tossed touchdown passes to Kedarian Jones (50 yards) and Damonte Coxie (23 yards) and led scoring drives of 66, 74, 66, 73, 50 and 57 yards.

White passed for 222 yards and the two touchdowns. He completed 18 of 28 passes. Jones led the UofM with 99 receiving yards on six catches. His TD catch came on a third-and-18 play from midfield and gave the Tigers a 21-10 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the first half.

Reserve quarterback Connor Adair directed the final scoring drive, leading the Tigers 55 yards in eight plays in the fourth quarter. Adair got the touchdown on a 22-yard keeper.

Memphis finished with 560 yards – 325 rushing and 235 passing – and limited the Bulls (4-7 overall, 2-5 American) to 170 yards. USF managed only 44 passing yards.

The Tigers applied pressure throughout and finished with a season-high four sacks.

NOTES

Memphis finished with 31 first downs to only five for USF.
RB Kenneth Gainwell had his seventh 100-yard rushing game to add to his record for a UofM freshman.
For the sixth time this season, the UofM defense limited an opponent to 25 or fewer points.
Memphis recorded over 500 yards of total offense for the sixth time this season.