In a showdown for the 94-pound trophy of a full rack of ribs, The University of Memphis football team toppled conference foe UAB 53-18.
The Tigers honored 35 graduating players for Memphis' senior night and final home game of the season.
First Half:
The Tigers began the game with a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive headlined by a Demeer Blankumsee explosive 37-yard reception and finished by a Brandon Thomas signature 2-yard touchdown run.
The Tigers went for two to cap off the drive using a long snapper trick play ending in a Colby Cox 2-point reception and subsequent Heisman pose (seriously, it's fantastic; check it out here)
On that drive, running back Mario Anderson eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards on the season.
UAB's next drive looked promising as it reached the Memphis nine-yard line. Soon after, a bizarre missed snap resulted in the Blazer's first fumble of the day.
It looked like UAB center Brady Wilson expected quarterback Jalen Kitna to be under center. Meanwhile, Kitna stood five yards behind Wilson, and Memphis defensive lineman Javon Denis jumped on the loose ball.
On Memphis' ensuing drive, the Tigers drove to UAB territory, setting up a 44-yard Tristian Vandenberg field goal, giving Memphis an 11-0 lead.
After the teams traded punts at the end of the first quarter, UAB quarterback Jalen Kitna gave the Blazers its second turnover after Memphis defensive lineman Patrick Lucas forced a fumble, and linebacker Matt Hudson jumped on it to give the Tigers the ball inside of the red zone.
With that fantastic field position, the Tigers set up Vandenberg with another field goal attempt, this time from 22 yards. Subsequently, Vandenberg missed a chip shot from the left hash, wide left. Something you certainly do not see every day
The Memphis defense stepped up on UAB's next drive, forcing a Blazer three-and-out.
After an effective punt return from Koby Drake, the Tiger's 9-play, 53-yard drive ended in an Anthony Landphere 10-yard touchdown reception, giving Memphis an 18-0 lead.
Soon after, UAB's offense put together a methodical 10-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown catch by Kam Shanks.
As UAB drove down the field in a 2-minute drill-style offense at the end of the half, the Blazers committed their third turnover of the first half due to a Kourtlan Marsh interception with 19 seconds remaining.
Marsh was previously announced to be out for the year in the Tigers' preseason but made his season debut last week against Rice. He is still eligible for the redshirt, as he will not play in four regular-season games.
Second Half:
A Koby Drake 38-yard punt return, where he sacrificed his body on a brutal hit, set up a Greg Desrosiers 19-yard touchdown catch, giving Memphis a 25-8 lead.
After UAB made it a two-touchdown game with a field goal of their own, Memphis drove down the field thanks to this spectacular catch by true freshman Brady Kluse and this Mario Anderson third-down conversion.
The Tigers capped off the drive with Anthony Landphere's second touchdown to take a 32-11 lead.
But entering the fourth quarter, UAB would not lie down. The Blazers used some lateral trickery to work their way down the field, finishing with a one-yard touchdown run, making it a 32-18 ball game.
Memphis' offense was clockwork down the field, ending with senior tight end Jamuari Chisolm's first career touchdown reception and a 39-18 Tigers lead.
This Mario Anderson bowling over of a UAB defender gave Memphis a 46-18 lead with 4:57 remaining in the contest.
A Greg Rubin tipped ball led to an A.J. Watts interception, and a 79-yard return gave Memphis the ball deep in Blazer territory.
Backup quarterback Harris Boyd rushed in a four-yard score to give Memphis its final lead of 53-18.
Notes:
-The Tigers went 5/5 on touchdown drives in the second half.
-Memphis went undefeated (7-0) at home for the first time since 2020.
-Seth Henigan is one of three active FBS players with 100+ passing touchdowns (Dillon Gabriel, Will Rogers).
-Mario Anderson became the 9th player in program history to rush for 1,000+ yards.
