Memphis Defeats Stephen F. Austin in Record-Setting Day for QB Brady White, WR Calvin Austin III

Saturday, November 21

Memphis, Tenn.

11 AM

University of Memphis

5-2

Stephen F. Austin

6-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Stephen F. Austin

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Memphis Defeats Stephen F. Austin in Record-Setting Day for QB Brady White, WR Calvin Austin III

Nov 21, 2020 | Football

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MEMPHIS — Senior quarterback Brady White set a new Memphis record with his 82nd career touchdown pass as the Tigers rolled to a 56-14 win over Stephen F. Austin on Senior Day at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

White finished with 269 yards and a touchdown on 18 completions and 31 attempts. He surpassed the previous record of 81 set by Danny Wimprine (2001-04).

"I want to recognize my teammates and the coaches that I've had here," White said. "Without having the coaches I've had at this place and the offensive linemen, receivers, running backs, tight ends and everyone around me, I couldn't be doing these things. I appreciate everyone that's been involved and I feel very fortunate to have played at a high level and to break that. It's really cool to be on the top of that list."

Junior wide receiver Calvin Austin III also set a new Memphis record with his fifth consecutive game of at least 100 receiving yards. Austin III, a former walk-on, had 10 catches for 173 yards and a 64-yard punt return touchdown. Current Chicago Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller (2013-17) had the previous record of four consecutive games of more than 100 receiving yards.

"At Memphis, we have guys that can do so many different things," Austin III said. "We have a system built for playmakers. When you come here, you're going to be used in many ways to be able to fully show what you can do. It's basically a system where you can show you are a weapon."

Running back Kylan Watkins had 100 rushing yards on 11 carries, the second 100-yard game of his career and first this season.

Senior defensive lineman Joseph Dorceus matched a career-high with four tackles for loss as the Tigers' defense tallied seven tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.

Senior placekicker Riley Patterson accounted for 12 points kicking to become the second player in Memphis history with more than 400 or more career kicking points. He now has 408 and trails only Jake Elliot's 445 for the program record.

Memphis (5-2, 3-2 American Athletic Conference) returns to conference play next Saturday with a trip to Navy. SFA's season concludes at 6-4.

First Quarter

The Tigers defense forced a punt after limiting SFA to 11 yards on the game's opening drive. Memphis drove 75 yards in 11 plays on its first offensive possession, taking a 7-0 lead on a 4-yard run by running back Rodrigues Clark.

Defensive back Rodney Owens intercepted a fourth-down pass to give Memphis the ball back at its own 42-yard line.

One play after White scrambled to convert a third-and-6, he threw his record-setting touchdown pass to wide receiver Tahj Washington — a 48-yard completion — to put the Tigers in front 14-0 with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The teams traded punts to conclude the first 15 minutes of play.

Second Quarter

Memphis took over at its own 23-yard line on its first drive of the second quarter after forcing the Lumberjacks' third punt of the game. White was intercepted by linebacker Brevin Randle, who returned the turnover 30 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the drive to cut the Tigers' lead in half at 14-7.

On White's first pass after the interception, he connected with Austin for a 40-yard completion to the SFA 25-yard line. After offensive pass interference nullified what would have been Washington's second touchdown of the game, Riley Patterson made a 39-yard field goal to put Memphis up 17-7 with 9:41 to play in the first half.

A three-and-out forced by the Memphis defense and a 36-yard run by Marquavius Weaver set up another Patterson field goal, this time from 29 yards, to push the Tigers' lead to 20-7.

The Lumberjacks' final drive of the quarter was their best of the half, going nine plays and 65 yards capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 20-14 with 58 seconds left in the intermission.

Third Quarter

After both teams punted on their opening drive of the second half, Memphis drove 84 yards in 10 plays before turning the ball over on downs at the SFA 3-yard line midway through the third quarter.

The Memphis defense held strong, forcing a punt that gave the Tigers good field position at their own 41-yard line to begin their third drive of the quarter.

After eight plays and three minutes and four seconds of game time, White finished a touchdown drive with a quarterback sneak. Memphis converted a 2-point conversion on a reverse pass from Austin III to tight end Sean Dykes to go in front 28-14.

A three-and-out forced by the Tigers' defense led to Austin III's punt return touchdown to make it 35-14 with 1:24 remaining in the quarter. Defensive lineman John Cartwright intercepted an SFA pass to end the Lumberjacks' following drive and give the offense the ball back at the SFA 35-yard line.

Fourth Quarter

Memphis running back Asa Martin finished a four-play drive with his 6-yard touchdown run, the first of his career, as the Tigers went ahead 42-14.

The defense continued its strong day by forcing SFA's ninth punt. The ensuing drive started with a 40-yard run by Watkins and finished with a 4-yard touchdown run by Weaver as Memphis went in front 49-14 with 10:35 to play. Weaver, a redshirt junior, set a new career high with 94 rushing yards.

Junior running back Timothy Taylor added the final score with a 47-yard touchdown run for the Tigers, his first career touchdown and his only carry of the game.