Last night, Memphis played their first conference game of the season in a short week against Navy. Despite encountering several hurdles during the game, the Tigers displayed resilience, ultimately securing a hard-fought 28-24 victory. Now, let’s delve into the thrilling details of this crucial win.
Recap
First Half:
After a promising opening drive that resulted in a Memphis touchdown, the Tigers hit a rough patch. The Midshipmen capitalized on this, making several big plays to secure an early 14-7 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter witnessed a remarkable defensive effort by Memphis, as they managed to shut down Navy’s offense completely. However, the Tigers’ own offense still struggled to find its rhythm. Nevertheless, just before halftime, Memphis was able to add more points to the board with a 7-yard TD courtesy of Roc Taylor.
Second Half:
The second half maintained its back-and-forth rhythm as both teams scored touchdowns on their opening drives. However, the defense then returned to containing the Midshipmen, while the Tigers continued to have trouble finding the end zone. Seth Henigan managed to run in for his second rushing TD of the day, putting the score at 21-14 with 14 minutes remaining.
Memphis had several opportunities to widen their lead, but turnovers kept Navy in the game. Henigan’s interception gave the Midshipmen a chance for a final drive, trailing by only 4 points. They managed to advance down the field, but with 9 seconds left, the Tigers held them at a crucial 4th and 6.
Nevertheless, the initial ruling in favor of a first down was overturned, leaving the Midshipmen just short of the marker, securing a 28-24 victory for the Tigers.
Notable Stats
Seth Henigan: 23/35 passing for 218 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 1 passing touchdown, and 1 interception
Blake Watson: 10 carries for 169 yards and a touchdown, 6 receptions for 68 yards
Roc Taylor: 6 receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown
Chandler Martin: 9 total tackles, 7 solo tackles
What Does This Mean Going Forward
The significant message from this game is that Memphis possesses the ability to secure victories in close contests. Last season, the Tigers struggled, going 0-4 in games decided by one score or less. This newfound capability bodes well as the Tigers are likely to face more closely contested matchups this season. Additionally, Blake Watson continues to live up to expectations and stood out as one of the offensive highlights last night. While the defense faced its first challenge of the early season, their resilience was consistently impressive.
