Clash of the Tigers

Clash of the Tigers

Memphis invades SEC country to take on Missouri

By Mark Randall

news@ theeveningtimes .com The Memphis Tigers will look to rebound from a tough 31-30 loss to UCF this week, but will have to do it on the road against an SEC opponent who held Alabama, the nation’s top offense, to its fewest points scored all season.

Memphis (4-3, 1-3 AAC) will face off against Missouri (33) in Columbia. Coach Mike Norvell said the team will have to put the disappointing loss against UCF behind them because they face another good football team in what promises to be another physical matchup.

“We get an opportunity this week to play another really good football team,” Norvell said in his weekly press conference. “ It’s an SEC opponent on the road. So we have to make sure we have a wona derful week of preparation and understand we are going to a hostile environment against a team that has played a lot of good football this year against some of the nation’s best talent. It’s going to be a heck of a matchup.”

Memphis let one get away from them last Saturday at Liberty Bowl against undefeated UCF. The Tigers led UCF 30-17 at halftime but allowed UCF to score 14 points in a soggy second half.

The Tigers were in field goal range had a chance to win the game on its final drive, but were out of timeouts and watched the clock expire.

Norvell said while he was disappointed by the loss, he was pleased with the team’s effort and still has a lot of confidence in the squad.

“We came up short in a contest that was a big game,” Norvell said. “Everybody was disappointed. Our guys are great competitors. We know this week is another big challenge for us.” The Tigers have one of the nation’s top offenses to fallback on led by quarterback Brady White and the country’s top rusher, Darrell Henderson. The team is averaging 539 yards of total offense a game — 7th in FBS — and are putting up 43.9 points per game.

White is 19th in the nation in completions (67.6 percent) and is 6th in passing efficiency (173.1) and has thrown for 15 touchdowns and only one interception.

Henderson has 1,133 yards on 110 carries and 13 touchdowns and is starting to show up on lists for the Heisman Trophy. He rushed for 199 yards on 31 carries against UCF.

“It’s going to be a physical game, just like UCF was a physical game,” Norvell said.

“For us, we have to play smart, fast, and physical. For anyone that has bumps and bruises, they better heal quickly because it’s going to be a heck of a matchup.”