For the first time since November 2008, the University of Memphis football team has a winning streak. A week after beating Tulane, 37-23, at the Liberty Bowl, the Tiger offense erupted for its most points since November 24, 2007, easily handling a Blazer team that entered the game on its own two-game winning streak. The win in Birmingham essentially gives the Tigers the Battle for the Bones trophy (an enormous rack of bronze ribs) for perpetuity, as UAB will not follow Memphis to the Big East conference next season. (The Blazers still own a 10-5 edge in the series dating back to the teams’ first meeting in 1997.)
Memphis quarterback Jacob Karam completed his first 10 passes, including touchdown strikes to Keiwone Malone (30 yards), Alan Cross (25 yards), and Jesse Milleson (two yards) to help the Tigers storm to a 28-3 halftime lead. Karam finished the game 14 of 16 for 147 yards, connecting with seven different Tiger receivers. He was supported by tailback Brandon Hayes, who carried the ball 19 times for 127 yards and three more touchdowns (the longest a 46-yard jaunt early in the fourth quarter).
Combined with last week’s output, the Tigers have scored their most points in back-to-back games (83) since putting up 90 in a pair early in the 2005 campaign. The victory secured the program’s most wins (3) since the Tigers went 6-7 under coach Tommy West in 2008.
Memphis returns home next Saturday for the season finale against Southern Miss (0-10 entering its game tonight against UTEP). A win over the Golden Eagles would give the Tigers a 3-3 record at the Liberty Bowl and even their Conference USA mark this season at 4-4.
