Taming Tigers O not Enough

By on October 3, 2015

 

 QB Paxton Lynch and the Memphis Tigers were slowed but still came away with a win (USA TODAY Sports / Jonathan Dyer)

QB Paxton Lynch and the Memphis Tigers were slowed but still came away with a win (USA TODAY Sports / Jonathan Dyer)

Tampa. Fla. — For the first half of Friday nights’ game between the USF Bulls and Memphis Tigers, it looked like the Bulls had found not only an offense but a defense as well.

The Bulls held the 8th best offensive team in college football to 7 points on 198 yards.

But that was the first half and unfortunately for the Bulls, a college football game consists of two halves. After the game, USF coach Willie Taggert said: “I told our team, put that one on me. I could’ve done some things better for them to help them in that game.”

The Bulls got off to a hot start.

After forcing Memphis to punt on their first possession, Quinton Flowers found a wide open Sean Price for a 27 yard touchdown pass that concluded a 12-play, 95 yard opening drive.

After a missed field goal by Memphis FG kicker, Jake Elliot, the Bulls got back to work on their very next possession. The Bulls easily moved the ball downfield on the 103rd ranked defense, as Marlon Mack broke a 29 yard run that got the Bulls into Memphis territory. A few plays later, the Bulls were on the Memphis 13 and looking to score their second TD of the first quarter. But the drive stalled and the Bulls were forced to call on FG kicker Emilio Nadelman who connected on a 31 yard FG.

Two possessions…162 yards from the beleaguered Bulls offense.

But that is where the good news ends for the Bulls and the bad news begins.

On the very next possession, and their first of the second quarter, Memphis QB Paxton Lynch completed a 20 yard pass to Sam Craft to complete a 5-play, 50 yard drive. The drive was set up by a 48 kickoff return courtesy of Jae’Lon Oglesby who returned the kick to the 50 yard line.

The Bulls defense remained stingy as the first half came to a close thwarting a late drive by Memphis and going into halftime leading 10-7. The Bulls would go into the locker room with 194 yards of total offense.

The second half started off with the Tigers catching the Bulls off guard and converting an onside kick. The Bulls though were not deterred, forcing the Tigers to once again punt on their opening possession. The Bulls offense could not contain the momentum as they were forced to punt. The Bulls could only manage 64 total yards in the 3rd quarter compared to 120 for the Tigers.

The Bulls at one point during the game punted seven consecutive times.

Memphis would go on to score the next 17 points making the score 24-10 before the Bulls got back on the board with a late touchdown. The Bulls made a late push to try and tie the game but a deep pass by QB Quinton Flowers was picked off sealing the victory for the Tigers 24-17.

Marlon Mack led the way for the Bulls, surpassing the 100 yard mark for the second time this season rushing 20 times for 107 yards. Flowers contributed as well throwing for 199 yards with 1 TD and 1 Interception. The Bulls as a team finished with 377 total yards compared to 425 for Memphis.

The Bulls (1-3) return to action next week against Syracuse at 3:30 pm.

Categories: College Football, Featured, Football, Sports
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