ORLANDO, Fla. — Memphis Football didn't let the multiple date or location changes due to Hurricane Milton distract them from the task at hand on Saturday - knocking off South Florida to keep their hopes of making the AAC Title game alive.
The Tigers (5-1, 1-1 AAC) took care of business 21-3 against the Bulls (2-4, 0-2 AAC) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Saturday. The game was originally scheduled to be played on Friday at 6 p.m. CT in Tampa.
Memphis looked locked in and ready to go, converting on a 4th and 1 on their first possession to extend the drive and setup an explosive 31-yard touchdown pass from Seth Henigan to Dameer Blankumsee. It marked Blankumsee's first TD of the season and just the second from a Memphis wide receiver this year.
The Tigers quickly doubled their 7-0 lead. Greg Rubin forced a fumble later in the first quarter and Henigan found running back Mario Anderson Jr. on a nine-yard pass for a touchdown.
It was Anderson's ninth TD of the season and his first in the air. But the big play was quickly overshadowed by his ejection from the game in the second quarter where he appeared to spit on USF defensive tackle Doug Blue-Eli.
The ejection took all of the steam out of a Memphis offense who scored a touchdown on two of their three opening drives.
After a failed 39-yard field goal from Caden Costa in the second quarter, the Tigers next and only points wouldn't come until 11:17 left in the fourth quarter. But those points came from a forced fumble recovery in the end zone by Kobee Minor and Chandler Martin.
It marked the Tigers third forced turnover of the game as they controlled a Bulls' offense that was led by backup QB Bryce Archie who was filling in for an injured Byrum Brown.
The only big and threatening play from the Bulls came in the opening stages of the third quarter when Archie connected with Josh Hardeman for 48 yards but the Bulls couldn't convert the play into points. Otherwise Memphis' defense limited USF to 258 yards while also producing three tackles for loss and one sack.
USF's only points came off a 52-yard field goal on the stroke of halftime from Nico Gramatica.
Henigan went 28-40 for 208 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Memphis rushed for 137 yards with Brandon Thomas leading the charge with 67 yards after Anderson was ejected. Anthony Landphere had the most reception yards of any Tiger with 64.
Martin led the defense with seven total tackles, one sack, one TFL, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. Davion Ross also looked in form with 4 total tackles, one pass breakup and one interception that he returned for 46 yards.
Memphis extend their streak and the longest active streak in the country of scoring 20 or more points in a game to 33.
The Tigers will now travel back to Memphis to prepare for North Texas on Saturday night at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
