University of Memphis Athletics
Postgame Notes: Memphis vs. North Texas
Oct 28, 2023 | Football
KICKING IT OFF
• Coin Toss: North Texas won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Memphis elected to receive.
• Memphis Captains: Jaylon Allen, Simeon Blair, Seth Henigan and Jacob Likes
• Attendance: 18,062
TEAM NOTES
• With the victory, Memphis is bowl eligible for the 10th-consecutive season, the longest stretch of any non-Power 5 team in the country.
• Memphis has scored 20 or more points in 22-consecutive games, the longest active streak in the nation.
• Dating back to the 2021 season, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 21 of its last 26 games. Over that stretch, the Tigers have totaled 29 interceptions and 18 fumbles. Memphis has forced multiple turnovers in 14 of those 26 contests.
• Memphis (6-2) reached six wins before the end of October for just the ninth time in program history and for the first time since 2019.
• The Tigers rushed for 180 yards on 12 carries in the first quarter – the most team-rushing yards in a quarter since rushing for 191 in the first quarter vs. UCF in 2018.
PLAYER NOTES
• Running back Blake Watson took the second play of the game 64 yards for a touchdown, untouched until the senior running back capped off the run with a dive for the pylon. On the Tigers next possession, Watson topped it by rumbling 65 yards for his second score on his first three carries of the contest. The pair of touchdowns marked the longest two offensive plays for the Tigers this season.
• Watson's 134 rushing yards in the first quarter were the most for a Tiger since Darrell Henderson rushed for 122 in the second quarter vs. UCF in 2018.
• Memphis led a 15-play, 65-yard drive in 8:06 of game time that ended with a Tanner Gillis field goal to give the Tigers a 17-7 lead with 14:12 remaining in the first half. The 15 plays tied the most for a drive this season by Memphis and 8:06 marks the second-longest drive by time.
• Running back Brandon Thomas rushed in Memphis' third touchdown of the game to extend the Tiger lead to 24-7 following the Gillis PAT. It was the 20th rushing touchdown of Thomas' career.
• Watson broke free for a 63-yard catch and run before being stopped at the one-yard line right before halftime, setting up a one-yard touchdown plunge for Thomas – his second of the game.
• Watson ended the first half with 216 combined rushing and receiving yards on just nine touches.
• With 13:45 to play in the fourth quarter, defensive lineman Jaylon Allen came up with a strip-sack that was recovered by linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku.
• Thomas rushed in his third touchdown of the game from one yard out with 11:59 remaining in the game. It was the 22nd rushing touchdown of Thomas' career, which is tied for seventh all-time at Memphis.
• Henigan found wide receiver Joseph Scates in the endzone from 36 yards out with just :12 left in the game to seal the Memphis win.
• Watson ended the game with 269 combined rushing and receiving yards (169 rush., 100 rec.) on 22 total touches (12.4 yards per touch). That total ranks him No. 4 all-time in a single game at Memphis, trailing just Kenneth Gainwell (307) and DeAngelo Williams (281, 273).
• In addition, it was just the second time in program history that a player (Watson) totaled over 100 rushing yards and over 100 receiving yards (169 rush., 100 rec.). Kenneth Gainwell did it vs. Tulane in 2019 (104 rush., 203 rec.)
• Henigan ended the game 22-for-28 passing for 330 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass. The win marked the 14th 300-yard passing game of Henigan's career, passing Riley Ferguson for the most-such games in program history. Henigan (9,079) also moved past former Tiger Paxton Lynch to No. 3 all-time for passing yards in a career at Memphis.
• Allen, linebacker Chandler Martin and defensive lineman Keveion'ta Spears each recorded a sack. Martin paced the Tiger defense with six stops (two TFL) to go with the sack.
• Wide receiver Demeer Blanumsee hauled in four passes for 80 yards. Tight end Anthony Landphere had a career-high 42 receiving yards.
• Coin Toss: North Texas won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Memphis elected to receive.
• Memphis Captains: Jaylon Allen, Simeon Blair, Seth Henigan and Jacob Likes
• Attendance: 18,062
TEAM NOTES
• With the victory, Memphis is bowl eligible for the 10th-consecutive season, the longest stretch of any non-Power 5 team in the country.
• Memphis has scored 20 or more points in 22-consecutive games, the longest active streak in the nation.
• Dating back to the 2021 season, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 21 of its last 26 games. Over that stretch, the Tigers have totaled 29 interceptions and 18 fumbles. Memphis has forced multiple turnovers in 14 of those 26 contests.
• Memphis (6-2) reached six wins before the end of October for just the ninth time in program history and for the first time since 2019.
• The Tigers rushed for 180 yards on 12 carries in the first quarter – the most team-rushing yards in a quarter since rushing for 191 in the first quarter vs. UCF in 2018.
PLAYER NOTES
• Running back Blake Watson took the second play of the game 64 yards for a touchdown, untouched until the senior running back capped off the run with a dive for the pylon. On the Tigers next possession, Watson topped it by rumbling 65 yards for his second score on his first three carries of the contest. The pair of touchdowns marked the longest two offensive plays for the Tigers this season.
• Watson's 134 rushing yards in the first quarter were the most for a Tiger since Darrell Henderson rushed for 122 in the second quarter vs. UCF in 2018.
• Memphis led a 15-play, 65-yard drive in 8:06 of game time that ended with a Tanner Gillis field goal to give the Tigers a 17-7 lead with 14:12 remaining in the first half. The 15 plays tied the most for a drive this season by Memphis and 8:06 marks the second-longest drive by time.
• Running back Brandon Thomas rushed in Memphis' third touchdown of the game to extend the Tiger lead to 24-7 following the Gillis PAT. It was the 20th rushing touchdown of Thomas' career.
• Watson broke free for a 63-yard catch and run before being stopped at the one-yard line right before halftime, setting up a one-yard touchdown plunge for Thomas – his second of the game.
• Watson ended the first half with 216 combined rushing and receiving yards on just nine touches.
• With 13:45 to play in the fourth quarter, defensive lineman Jaylon Allen came up with a strip-sack that was recovered by linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku.
• Thomas rushed in his third touchdown of the game from one yard out with 11:59 remaining in the game. It was the 22nd rushing touchdown of Thomas' career, which is tied for seventh all-time at Memphis.
• Henigan found wide receiver Joseph Scates in the endzone from 36 yards out with just :12 left in the game to seal the Memphis win.
• Watson ended the game with 269 combined rushing and receiving yards (169 rush., 100 rec.) on 22 total touches (12.4 yards per touch). That total ranks him No. 4 all-time in a single game at Memphis, trailing just Kenneth Gainwell (307) and DeAngelo Williams (281, 273).
• In addition, it was just the second time in program history that a player (Watson) totaled over 100 rushing yards and over 100 receiving yards (169 rush., 100 rec.). Kenneth Gainwell did it vs. Tulane in 2019 (104 rush., 203 rec.)
• Henigan ended the game 22-for-28 passing for 330 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass. The win marked the 14th 300-yard passing game of Henigan's career, passing Riley Ferguson for the most-such games in program history. Henigan (9,079) also moved past former Tiger Paxton Lynch to No. 3 all-time for passing yards in a career at Memphis.
• Allen, linebacker Chandler Martin and defensive lineman Keveion'ta Spears each recorded a sack. Martin paced the Tiger defense with six stops (two TFL) to go with the sack.
• Wide receiver Demeer Blanumsee hauled in four passes for 80 yards. Tight end Anthony Landphere had a career-high 42 receiving yards.
Players Mentioned
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