Memphis Tigers use huge third quarter to hang on and beat Temple

The Memphis Tigers advanced to 4-1 for the second consecutive season beating the Temple Owls 34-20. It’s the first time they’ve done so since 1966-1967.

The Memphis Tigers (4-1 overall, 1-0 conference) overcame a 13-point deficit and hang on to beat the Temple Owls (3-3, 1-1) 34-27.

Memphis dominated the second half, but it didn’t look like they’d come away with a win early on. Temple’s defense suffocated the Tigers in the first half giving up just 106 total yards and three points.

Quarterback Riley Ferguson struggled to find his rhythm as the Owls’ applied constant pressure. Temple’s offense was able to move the football but failed to convert in the red zone. They kicked two short Austin Jones’ field goals to take a 6-0, first quarter lead.

In the second quarter, the Owls broke the game open with a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive. They capped it with a Ryquell Armstead 2-yard touchdown run. Memphis would finally end its scoring drought at the end of the second quarter.

Ferguson went 7-for-11 for 78 yards on the drive resulting in a Jake Elliott 19-yard field goal. The Owls went into the half with a 13-3 lead, but definitely saw cracks in the defense late in the first half.

In the third quarter, Memphis broke the game wide open by scoring 17-points in just under four minutes. The Tigers punched in a second field goal as Elliott hit a 42-yarder with about five minutes remaining. The offense finally came to the rescue three minutes later courtesy of Doroland Dorceus’ 71-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing Owl’s drive Phillip Walker threw a dangerous ball over the middle resulting in a pick six for Memphis.

Blowout opportunity turns to nail-biter

The Tigers looked to roll after Tigers’ running back Darrell Henderson rushed for a 28-yard touchdown with just over eight minutes to play. The Tigers led 27-13 and the Owls offense looked stagnant. The Owls and Walker came out slinging on the next drive. A pair of Walker completions and Jahad Thomas quick rush got the Owls a first down.

On the next play, Walker avoided the rush, stepped up into the pocket and fired a rocket on the run to Jahad Thomas. He would do the rest scoring a 61-yard touchdown and cutting the Tigers’ lead to seven.

The Tigers seemed to put it away on a Tony Pollard 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown ending a two-decade long kickoff return touchdown drought. Walker would not be denied coming right back on a 10-play, 84-yard touchdown drive. Walker found Thomas again for his second touchdown pass of the night from nine yards out. At 34-27, with just under four minutes to play the Owls needed a defensive stop.

On Memphis’ next drive the Owls would get a quick three-and-out, but a running into the kicker penalty gave the Tigers a second chance. They went three-and-out again giving the Owls a chance with a little less than a minute to play.

Walker and the offense continued to move the ball as he rushed for a 19-yard gain to the Owls’ 39. Two plays later, he completed a 15-yard pass to the Memphis’ 46 with 26 seconds to play. However, the gunslinger mentality finally came back to bite him as he was intercepted ending the game.

Final Notes

Memphis’ offense played mostly mistake-free football and that’s why they came away with the win. The Owls had 200 more yards than the Tigers, but also lost the turnover battle 3-1. Ferguson played conservative completing 17-of-26 passes for 174 yards and zero interceptions. It was an impressive, bounce back performance for him as he tossed three interceptions the week before against Ole Miss.

Walker showed why he’s Temple’s all-time leader in just about every passing category going 36-of-59 for 445 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. No one can doubt he’s a solid quarterback, but there’s a reason he’s thrown 40 career interceptions. His gunslinging can tend to get the Owls in trouble and it did tonight.