It was a knock-down, drag-out fight from the beginning to the end as the USF Bulls outlasted the Memphis Tigers, 49-42. The Bulls were led by another strong performance from quarterback, Quinton Flowers, who had 473 yards of total offense and accounted for five touchdowns. USF started the game outscoring the Tigers 21-10, only for Memphis to go on a 24-7 scoring streak of their own. After that, it was a back and forth offensive affair with very little defense by either team. Each team punted the ball only three times during the entire game.
USF scored on their opening drive, a seven yard run by running back, Marlon Mack. Mack’s touchdown was set up by a big 49 yard reception by Rodney Adams and a 20 yard scramble by quarterback, Quinton Flowers.
The next three possessions would end in punts by each team. In USF’s third possession of the game, Adams took at Flowers handoff on 2nd and 6, 92 yards for a touchdown, to go up 14-0 with 7:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Memphis would finally get on the scoreboard on their next drive. Starting on their own 26 yard line, the Tigers successfully drove the field to the USF 30, where their drive stalled. They settled for a 47 yard Jake Elliot field goal to bring the score to 14-3, USF.
Early in the second quarter, Memphis would score again. Quarterback, Riley Ferguson scored the Tigers’ first touchdown of the game, a one yard rush for the score. Ferguson, who came into the game with -120 total rushing yards on 49 attempts, had rushed for 29 yards just two plays earlier. With 12:06 left in the first half, Memphis trailed, 14-10.
The Bulls would respond with a touchdown of their own on their next drive. It was a 48 yard touchdown run by Flowers that put USF up 21-10 with 9:41 left in the half. The drive featured another big run by Flowers, a 20 yard run from the USF 9 yard line.
It wouldn’t take long for Memphis to get into the end zone again. Running back, Darrell Henderson, scored on a 12 yard run just two minutes later. The next drive for the Bulls would end in a missed field goal and the next Memphis drive would end in a punt. At halftime, USF led 21-17.
The third quarter was when the fireworks began. Memphis started the period with a scoring drive to take their first lead of the game, 24-21 on a Daniel Hurd touchdown catch. On the following kickoff, they recovered an onside kick, giving them back to back possessions and momentum. On second and nine from the USF 48 yard line, Ferguson’s pass is intercepted by Deatrick Nichols.
Big pass completions to tight end, Mitchell Wilcox, and Adams of 30 and 27 yards set up first down at the Memphis 12 yard line. Flowers would carry it in the final twelve yards for his second touchdown of the game. With 10 minutes left in the third quarter, USF regained the lead, 28-24.
Memphis took that lead back on their next drive. This time, it was a one yard pass to tight end, Daniel Montiel, that gave the Tigers back the lead. That score was made possible in part due to a 12 and 21 yard rush by Doroland Dorceus. The Tigers’ lead with 2:40 left in the third was 31-28.
Bulls’ receiver, Tyre McCants was the answer on the next drive. McCants took a pass from Flowers 40 yards, diving into the end zone to get the score. McCants was roughed up on from an impact at the goal line, which would surely have knocked him out of bounds but for his end of run dive. With just over two and a half minutes left in the quarter, USF wen up 35-31.
Early in the fourth quarter, Memphis scored again. This time, it was a 29 yard field goal by Jake Elliot. Elliot’s field goal brought his team within one point of the Bulls to trail 35-34. They would force a three-and-out on the next USF possession, but would miss a 50 yard field goal attempt on the next Memphis drive that would have given his team the lead.
The Bulls would turn that missed kick into momentum on the following possession. On second and 11 on the USF 32 yard line, Flowers broke out for a 35 yard run to the Memphis 33. The next play was an eight yard pass to Mack, followed by carries of 13, 3, and 4 for the score to go up 42-34 with 6:55 left in the game.
A solid kick return by Tony Pollard gave Memphis the ball on their own 43 yard line. On the first snap of the drive, Ferguson hit an open Anthony Miller in stride for a 57 yard touchdown pass. With the successful completion of the two point conversion, the game was tied up with 6:42 to go.
USF has built a reputation on their ability to score quickly. Given their position in the game and inability to stop Memphis with the defense, they apparently made a decision to slow things down. They burned up nearly five minutes of game clock before scoring again, a 22 yard touchdown run by Flowers. With 1:41 remaining in the game, the Bulls were up 49-42.
Three plays after beginning the next drive on their own 36, Memphis had first down on the USF 36. The first play from the 36 was a two yard gain by Dorceus. However, a brutal facemask penalty by Deadrin Senat, which resulted in Dorceus’ helmet flying off, gave the Tigers a new set of downs on the USF 19. Memphis would get down the eight yard line, and then to the three. Three consecutive passes were defended by Deatrick Nichols. USF got away with a clear pass interference on the third of those passes, where Nichols could be seen with his arm interlocked with the arm of the receiver. No flag was thrown and the ball was turned over on downs with 41 seconds left in the game. The Bulls took a knee twice and what was a shootout ended quietly.
The game featured lots of offensive action, amounting to close to 1,300 yards of total offense. Flowers had another career day, going 24-29 passing for a completion rate of nearly 83%, a career high for him. His next best passing performance was 12-16 for 75% against FAMU in 2015. He passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions against Memphis. Additionally, he rushed for 210 and three more touchdowns. His 210 rushing yards and 473 yards of total offense are also career highs. His previous high in total yards was against NIU with 403 and 201 rushing yards against SMU, last year. The five total touchdowns he scored ties his best set previously this season against UConn. Flowers is now the 18th ranked rusher in the country. Mack, who carried for just 69 yards, is 34th.
For the Tigers, Ferguson had a solid day, passing for 331 yards, three touchdowns, and one nterception. He also rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown, a career best and the first time he has ever finished with positive rushing yards. Miller caught passes for 153 yards and a touchdown, marking his third best receiving total of his career. Montiel also had a good day, catching ten passes for 100 yard and a score.
Memphis drops to 6-4 (3-3) with the loss, which ends any conference championship hopes they may have had. The Tigers will face the Bearcats in Cincinnati on Friday night before ending their regular season at home against Houston the day after Thanksgiving.
The Bulls have escaped with a win at the end of a game for the second game in a row. While they are still technically in the hunt for the East division title, Temple would have to lose to 3-7 (0-6) Tulane or 3-7 (1-5) ECU for USF to take the spot. With the win they improve to 8-2, their best record in nine years, since going 9-3 in 2007. The Bulls visit Dallas to play SMU in one week and close their regular season at home to UCF the Saturday after Thanksgiving.