Tigers get back on track with win over Middle Tennessee State

Memphis tames Ponies, posts 24-7 victory

From the University of Memphis

GoTigersGo.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis football team got back on track with a 24-7 victory over Middle Tennessee Saturday night at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

The Tigers (4-1) racked up 413 total yards, including 186 with three touchdowns on the ground while improving to 29-1 in the team’s last 30 home games against non-conference opponents.

Senior running back Mario Anderson Jr. toted the ball 18 times for 118 yards and a score while also reeling in six catches for 43 yards to combine for over 160 rushing and receiving yards. Fellow backfield mate Brandon Thomas crossed the goal line twice on just six carries, giving him rushing touchdowns No. 30 and No. 31 of his career – fifth-most all-time at Memphis.

The Tigers’ all-time leading passer Seth Henigan completed 26-of-41 pass attempts for 227 yards while moving past Houston’s Clayton Tune into second on The American’s all-time passing list, now trailing only former East Carolina quarterback Holton Ahlers. The win also marked the first game of Henigan’s career without throwing a touchdown pass, snapping a 41-game streak (tied for second- longest in FBS history).

Wide receiver Roc Taylor led the Tigers with 69 yards on six catches to match a season high in receptions. Anderson Jr.’s six receptions matched Taylor for the game high.

Memphis stormed out of the locker room with 126 yards of offense in the opening quarter of play, led by Henigan hitting six different receivers for 90 yards through the air.

Defensively, the Tigers forced four sacks, two fumbles and totaled 6.5 tackles for loss.

Memphis limited the Blue Raiders to just 29 yards on the ground on 25 attempts.

Linebacker Elijah Herring paced the unit with a careerhigh 10 total stops – 2.5 for loss – and 1.5 sacks. Matt Hudson finished with nine tackles and half a sack, while Chandler Martin and Kobee Minor also added a sack each. Minor’s strip sack of MTSU quarterback Nicholas Vattiato early in the second quarter was recovered by Martin and led to a Thomas rushing touchdown to get the Tigers on the board after a scoreless first quarter.

Memphis has now scored 20 or more points in 32-consecutive games – the longest active streak in the nation – dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021. Head coach Ryan Silverfield improved to 16-0 in his career when holding the opponent to 20 points or less.

Up Next

The Tigers will be back on the road at South Florida (2-3, 01 AAC) on Friday, Oct. 12 after the bye week.

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