Tigers claw back to defeat Houston

Tigers claw back to defeat Houston

Memphis orchestrates spectacular game winning drive to win final regular season game

sports@theeveningtimes.com

The Memphis Tigers (8-4, 5-3 American Athletic Conference) defeated the Houston Cougars (9-3, 5-3, No. 18 AP) 48-44 this past weekend.

The Tigers received the ball at their own 28 yardline down four points with 1:10 left in the game. With 19 seconds left on the clock, quarterback Riley Ferguson connected with receiver Anthony Miller for a 10-yard touchdown.

The touchdown resulted from a 72-yard drive for the Tigers and snapped a six-game losing streak to the Cougars.

“I'm so glad the game went the way it did with the ups and downs, because that provided us with another opportunity to show the heart and the character and how our guys would respond,” Tigers Head Coach Mike Norvell told the Associated Press.

The Tigers offense played unfazed by a Cougars defense which held No. 3 Louisville and Heisman trophy candidate Lamar Jackson to 10 points last week.

Ferguson connected with receiver Phil Mayhue twice in a high scoring first quarter which ended in Memphis' favor, 21-17.

The Tigers quarterback completed 12 of 13 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns in that quarter and led the Tigers to touchdowns on all three of Memphis' offensive possessions.

After two field goals and a 2-yard touchdown run by Darrell Henderson in the second quarter, the Tigers brought a 34-17 lead into the half.

The Cougars stormed back in the second half by scoring 27 unanswered points and took their first lead of the game with 1:29 left in the fourth quarter. Cougars Head Coach Tom Herman commented after the game on the pride he has in his team's second half effort.

“We had a decision to make at half-time on whether we were going to give up and give in or if we were going to fight.

Our guys fought,” Herman told the Associated Press.

“Obviously, it wasn't quite enough, but I think our guys have a lot to be proud of in terms of how they fought in the second half.”

Ferguson led the Tigers down the field on the team's final drive by finding Mayhue for 30 yards before getting a pass interference call on Houston which put the Tigers in the red zone. Following the penalty on the Cougars defense, Miller got open in the end zone for the gamewinning touchdown catch off the arm of Ferguson.

Ferguson completed 30 passes on the day for 409 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Doroland Dorceus led the Tigers on the ground with 82 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries.

Mayhue finished the game with 142 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. His teammate Miller accumulated 169 yards through the air and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead score for the Tigers with 19 seconds remaining. After the game, Coach Norvell commented on the Tigers ability to complete the comeback.

“Houston has a terrific football team. But today our guys would not be denied,” Norvell told the Associated Press.

Coach Norvell makes history by being the only first-year head coach to ever take the Tigers to a bowl game. This year's bowl game will be the third straight for the Memphis Tigers.

“We want to maximize every opportunity, so the next step in front of us is to finish as bowl champions,” Norvell told the Associated Press.

Photo courtesy of gotigersgo.com

Anthony Miller (3) takes it to the endzone for six against Houston. The Tigers scored a big win over the No. 18 team in the country over the weekend.

By Collins Peeples