Tigers rally, but fall short at SMU, 30-27

Saturday, October 3

Dallas, Texas

2:30 PM

University of Memphis

1-1 , 0-1

SMU

4-0 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Memphis

SMU

Photo by: George Walker

Oct 03, 2020 | Football

Box Score SMU-Memphis Final Book Memphis SMU Game Notes

By: Phil Stukenborg

DALLAS – The 24^th-ranked University of Memphis Tigers recovered from a huge first-half deficit, but their rally wasn't enough in Saturday's American Athletic Conference opener at SMU.

SMU's Chris Naggar knocked through a 43-yard field goal in the closing seconds to lift the Mustangs to a 30-27 victory at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. SMU improved to 4-0 and Memphis, which beat Arkansas State in its opener on Sept. 5, fell to 1-1.

The Tigers, playing for the first time in 28 days because of a Covid-19 induced layoff, were driving in the final minutes to potentially set up a game-winning score of their own. But quarterback Brady White fumbled with 1:25 left after a short run and the Mustangs recovered at their 41-yard line.

"I'm super proud of our defense and how they responded," White said. "All credit goes to SMU, but we shot ourselves in the foot too many times."

White passed for 380 yards and three touchdowns, while receiver Damonte Coxie finished with 169 receiving yards on eight catches to lead the Tigers, who finished with 501 total yards.

SMU got 474 yards passing and three TDs from its quarterback, Shane Buechele. Mustangs' receiver Reggie Roberson had a remarkable afternoon, snaring five passes for 243 yards and two TDs before leaving the game with an injury in the second half.

After SMU got a 25-yard field goal by Naggar on its opening drive of the second half, Memphis tied the game in the final minutes of the third quarter. White tossed a 5-yard scoring pass to Tahj Washington to complete a 14-play, 87-yard drive and tie the game at 27-all. It was an impressive bounce back by the Tigers, who trailed by 21 with 9:51 to go in the second quarter.

"Ultimately, this loss is 100 percent on my shoulders," said Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield. "But our kids did show resolve. We know our young men will go out there and fight. That's the one thing we can hang our hats one. We know our guys do have heart."

Each team suffered key fumbles in the fourth quarter with SMU capitalizing on its recovery to produce the game-winner. SMU's Junior Aho jumped on the Brady White fumble with 1:25 left after the Tigers had marched from their 24 to the SMU 39.

"The guy came from my left and got a good punch on it," White said. "I should have had two hands on it."

Despite the setback, the comebacker by the Tigers was impressive. The UofM fell behind 24-3 early in the second quarter as the Mustangs displayed a rhythm one would from a team whose first month of the season wasn't disrupted. In the opening quarter, SMU had amassed 205 yards (to 75 for the Tigers) and Buechele had thrown for two touchdowns, including a 70-yarder to Roberson Jr.

A second big-play TD to Roberson Jr. – this one from 85 yards – made it SMU 24, Memphis 3 with 9:51 to go in the second quarter.

It was at that point the Tigers awakened. They scored the game's next 17 points, starting with a short TD pass from White to Calvin Austin on a screen and ending on a career-long 56-yard field goal from Riley Patterson as time expired before the half.

The UofM scored its other TD during the 17-point run on a 27-yard pass from White to Sean Dykes, set up by a 27-yard run by Kylan Watkins on the previous snap.

Memphis will have a bye week before playing UCF Oct. 17 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

NOTES

Riley Patterson's 56-yard field goal in the first half tied the school record for the longest FG in Memphis school history. It tied the record set by Jake Elliot in 2013 at USF and was the longest of Patterson's career by four yards.
Quindell Johnson forced and recovered the first fumble of his career with 22 seconds remaining in the first half to setup Patterson's 56-yard FG.
Patterson's 26-yard field goal in the first quarter tied him with Joe Allison for third in career field goals made (51). He moved into third place all alone with the 56-yarder. Jake Elliot holds the school record with 81 and Stephen Gostkowski ranks second with 70.
Memphis had won the previous six meeting against SMU dating to 2014.
Defensively, Jacobi Francis led the Tigers with three pass breakups, while Quindell Johnson finished with two PBUs and a forced fumble that he recovered.