Call it a good business trip. The record-breaking Tiger offense was held almost 30 points under its average over the season’s first four games. But the maligned Tiger defense locked up South Florida, holding the Bulls scoreless over seven consecutive drives from the second quarter to the fourth, enough to allow Memphis to score 24 unanswered points and secure the third 5-0 start in the program’s history.
Sophomore quarterback Paxton Lynch completed 20 of 33 passes for 305 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. (Lynch has now thrown for 10 touchdowns this season without an interception.) Lynch also ran for a touchdown to complete a 93-yard scoring drive late in the third quarter, giving Memphis its first lead of the game (17-10). Two possessions later, tailback Doroland Dorceus took a screen pass from Lynch and galloped down the right sideline for a 55-yard touchdown that extended the Tiger lead to 24-10.
The Tigers fell behind 10-0 and didn’t score until almost two minutes expired in the second quarter when Lynch connected with Sam Craft for a 20-yard strike. Craft was one of nine different Tigers to catch passes from Lynch. (No one had more catches than Phil Mayhue‘s four.) Kicker Jake Elliott hit a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter after a rare miss (from 36 yards) in the first.
The Tigers lost a pair of players to targeting penalties (helmet-to-helmet collisions, judged to be intentional). Cornerback Dion Witty was ejected in the first quarter and wideout Mose Frazier (on a USF punt) in the second.
Memphis outgained USF, 425 yards to 377. The Tigers improve to 2-0 in American Athletic Conference play, while the Bulls (1-3 overall) are 0-1 in the AAC.
The Tigers will enjoy a bye next week before Ole Miss (currently ranked third in the country) visits the Liberty Bowl on October 17th. Memphis will face the Rebels riding a 12-game winning streak, the longest in program history.
