University of Memphis Athletics
Postgame Notes: Memphis vs. Bethune-Cookman
Sep 02, 2023 | Football
KICKING IT OFF
• Coin Toss: Bethune-Cookman won the toss and deferred to the second half. Memphis elected to receive.
• Memphis Captains: Jaylon Allen, Simeon Blair, Seth Henigan and Jacob Likes
• Attendance: 26,632
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TEAM NOTES
• With the victory, Memphis improves to 26-1 in the team's last 27 non-conference games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
• Memphis improved to 42-7 (.857) at home since head coach Ryan Silverfield joined the coaching staff in 2016. As a head coach, Silverfield is 17-4 (.810) at the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
• The Tigers have now won 10-straight home openers. All-time, Memphis is 53-49-5 in home openers.
• Dating back to the 2021 season, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 16 of its last 19 games. Over that stretch, the Tigers have totaled 24 interceptions and 11 fumbles. Memphis has forced multiple turnovers in 11 of the last 19 contests.
• Memphis' 42-point win was the largest margin of victory in a season-opening game since 2018 when the Tigers defeated Mercer, 66-14.
• Memphis' defense limited B-CU to just 91 total yards on the night – the first time the team allowed less than a 100 yards since SMU in 2015.
• With the victory over Bethune-Cookman, the Tigers are 1-0 all-time against the Wildcats. B-CU was only the second current SWAC team Memphis has played.
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PLAYER NOTES
• Memphis marched down the field to score on its opening drive of the season, going 73 yards in six plays (2:30). The touchdown drive was capped with a two-yard touchdown plunge by newcomer running back Blake Watson for his first touchdown in a Memphis uniform.
•Quarterback Seth Henigan started 4-of-4 passing for 58 yards, connecting with three different receivers on the opening drive.
• Kicker Seth Morgan connected on his first field-goal attempt as a Tiger from 45 yards out to put Memphis up 10-0 with 5:07 to play in the first quarter.
• Watson rushed in his second touchdown of the game early in the second quarter to extend Memphis' lead to 17-7 after Morgan's PAT.
• Morgan drilled a 26-yard field goal with 9:13 remaining in the first half to grow the Memphis lead to 20-7.
• The Tigers forced a fumble and defensive lineman Andres Fox recovered it at Bethune-Cookman's 31-yard line with 8:05 remaining in the first half.
• Watson made it a first-half hat trick, rushing in his third touchdown from two-yards out with 6:26 left to play in the first half. It marked the first time a Memphis player rushed for three touchdowns in a half since Darrell Henderson in 2018 (first half vs. UCF). Watson ended the game with 10 carries for 75 yards, and added 37 yards on five receptions (112 total yards).
• Running back Sutton Smith scored Memphis' fourth rushing touchdown of the game on the Tigers' opening drive of the second half. The touchdown gave Memphis a 35-7 lead with 10:59 to go in the third quarter.
• Henigan linked up with newcomer wide receiver Demeer Blankumsee for a 47-yard touchdown – the first of Blankumsee's Tiger tenure.
• Wide receiver Tauskie Dove hauled in a 54-yard catch and run that set up a seven-yard touchdown throw from Henigan to wide receiver Christian Carter – his first touchdown reception of his Tiger career.
• Smith found paydirt for the second time in the game with 12:37 to go in the fourth quarter to swell Memphis' lead to 56-7 after Morgan's PAT.
• Smith went over the century mark on the ground, rushing for 115 yards on 18 carries (2 TD) to become the first 100-yard rusher for the Tigers since Brandon Thomas against Arkansas State in 2021. Smith logged a career high in carries, yards and touchdowns. He also caught a pair of passes for three yards.
• Henigan ended the contest 27-of-36 passing for 334 yards (2 TD, 2 INT) to mark the 11th 300-yard game of his career.
• Blankumsee caught six balls for 98 yards and a touchdown to come up just shy of the century mark. Wide receivers Roc Taylor (6 rec., 78 yards) and Tauskie Dove (3 Rec., 72 yards) made it three Tigers with 70-plus receiving yards.
• The Tigers tallied four sacks in the game - Andres Fox (1), An'Darius Coffey (1), CorMontae Hamilton (1), Jaylen Joyner (1).
• Fox led the Tiger defense with five total stops (1.5 TFL).
• Local quarterback Tevin Carter made his Memphis debut and went 1-for-2 passing for nine yards and rushed twice for seven yards.
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• Coin Toss: Bethune-Cookman won the toss and deferred to the second half. Memphis elected to receive.
• Memphis Captains: Jaylon Allen, Simeon Blair, Seth Henigan and Jacob Likes
• Attendance: 26,632
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TEAM NOTES
• With the victory, Memphis improves to 26-1 in the team's last 27 non-conference games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
• Memphis improved to 42-7 (.857) at home since head coach Ryan Silverfield joined the coaching staff in 2016. As a head coach, Silverfield is 17-4 (.810) at the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
• The Tigers have now won 10-straight home openers. All-time, Memphis is 53-49-5 in home openers.
• Dating back to the 2021 season, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 16 of its last 19 games. Over that stretch, the Tigers have totaled 24 interceptions and 11 fumbles. Memphis has forced multiple turnovers in 11 of the last 19 contests.
• Memphis' 42-point win was the largest margin of victory in a season-opening game since 2018 when the Tigers defeated Mercer, 66-14.
• Memphis' defense limited B-CU to just 91 total yards on the night – the first time the team allowed less than a 100 yards since SMU in 2015.
• With the victory over Bethune-Cookman, the Tigers are 1-0 all-time against the Wildcats. B-CU was only the second current SWAC team Memphis has played.
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PLAYER NOTES
• Memphis marched down the field to score on its opening drive of the season, going 73 yards in six plays (2:30). The touchdown drive was capped with a two-yard touchdown plunge by newcomer running back Blake Watson for his first touchdown in a Memphis uniform.
•Quarterback Seth Henigan started 4-of-4 passing for 58 yards, connecting with three different receivers on the opening drive.
• Kicker Seth Morgan connected on his first field-goal attempt as a Tiger from 45 yards out to put Memphis up 10-0 with 5:07 to play in the first quarter.
• Watson rushed in his second touchdown of the game early in the second quarter to extend Memphis' lead to 17-7 after Morgan's PAT.
• Morgan drilled a 26-yard field goal with 9:13 remaining in the first half to grow the Memphis lead to 20-7.
• The Tigers forced a fumble and defensive lineman Andres Fox recovered it at Bethune-Cookman's 31-yard line with 8:05 remaining in the first half.
• Watson made it a first-half hat trick, rushing in his third touchdown from two-yards out with 6:26 left to play in the first half. It marked the first time a Memphis player rushed for three touchdowns in a half since Darrell Henderson in 2018 (first half vs. UCF). Watson ended the game with 10 carries for 75 yards, and added 37 yards on five receptions (112 total yards).
• Running back Sutton Smith scored Memphis' fourth rushing touchdown of the game on the Tigers' opening drive of the second half. The touchdown gave Memphis a 35-7 lead with 10:59 to go in the third quarter.
• Henigan linked up with newcomer wide receiver Demeer Blankumsee for a 47-yard touchdown – the first of Blankumsee's Tiger tenure.
• Wide receiver Tauskie Dove hauled in a 54-yard catch and run that set up a seven-yard touchdown throw from Henigan to wide receiver Christian Carter – his first touchdown reception of his Tiger career.
• Smith found paydirt for the second time in the game with 12:37 to go in the fourth quarter to swell Memphis' lead to 56-7 after Morgan's PAT.
• Smith went over the century mark on the ground, rushing for 115 yards on 18 carries (2 TD) to become the first 100-yard rusher for the Tigers since Brandon Thomas against Arkansas State in 2021. Smith logged a career high in carries, yards and touchdowns. He also caught a pair of passes for three yards.
• Henigan ended the contest 27-of-36 passing for 334 yards (2 TD, 2 INT) to mark the 11th 300-yard game of his career.
• Blankumsee caught six balls for 98 yards and a touchdown to come up just shy of the century mark. Wide receivers Roc Taylor (6 rec., 78 yards) and Tauskie Dove (3 Rec., 72 yards) made it three Tigers with 70-plus receiving yards.
• The Tigers tallied four sacks in the game - Andres Fox (1), An'Darius Coffey (1), CorMontae Hamilton (1), Jaylen Joyner (1).
• Fox led the Tiger defense with five total stops (1.5 TFL).
• Local quarterback Tevin Carter made his Memphis debut and went 1-for-2 passing for nine yards and rushed twice for seven yards.
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