Memphis Cruises to 45-21 Win Over UAB

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The Memphis Tigers (5-2, 2-1) took care of business yesterday against an opponent that was game, for a minute or two. That opponent was the Blazers of Alabama-Birmingham (2-6, 1-3) for the “Battle of the Bones.” With the win, the Tigers are now one win away from bowl eligibility. Five games remain and all five are conference games including the home finale against SMU (5-2, 3-0), one of the three undefeated leaders in the conference.

But in order to get to the end of the line, they had to get through this game that began like a track meet. The Blazers took the opening kickoff and three plays later it was 8-0 UAB. Memphis took the ensuing kickoff and marched 71 yards in eight plays to make it 8-7. Those two scores were followed by two more, one from each team. A 14-play, 78-yard drive from UAB and Memphis answered with a 12-play 63-yard drive to make it 14-14.

After a turnover on downs for the Blazers and a punt by the Tigers, UAB set up their offense. The drive would be short-lived when Malik Feaster picked Harrison Barker off and took it to the house for a 21-14 Memphis lead. The Blazers answered right back and the teams went into the half tied at 21 with a lot of offense to show for it. The half showed that UAB came prepared for the first half of the game. The second half would be a whole other story.

The second half saw the Memphis defense shut out UAB, get a couple of picks, force a fumble, and stop two drives on downs. They limited the Blazers to less than 50 yards in the last quarter and a half of the game. In the meantime, Seth Henigan (19-28, 159 yards and 2 TDs) and Blake Watson (21 carries for 125 yards and 1 TD) did the work. Watson is now second in the American in rushing with 593 yards (84.7 per game), 26 yards behind leader, Makhi Hughes of Tulane. He is also second with seven touchdowns.

What this is about now is the race to the top of the American Football Conference standings where the Tigers find themselves a game back of a trio of 3-0 teams in Tulane, SMU, and UTSA (4-3, 3-0). They just have to play SMU but need help from others if they hope to win the AAC. Tulane (6-1, 3-0) has already beaten this team. A trip to North Texas (3-4, 1-2) is expected to yield win number six on the year and a lock for a bowl game. But the goal is the AAC regular season and conference titles.

Homecoming sees the much-improved Bulls of South Florida (4-4, 2-2) back home on Nov. 4th. The Tigers cannot afford to let USF jump out to an early lead they can’t come back from. Henigan is going to have to be more effective and consistent and not put too much on the shoulders of Watson. The defense will have to play for 60 minutes like they played in the second half of this win. The game as a whole for the defense was a good one. They forced four turnovers that produced three touchdowns and held the Blazers to 14 yards in the third quarter. They also outscored UAB 24-0 in the second half.

It will be about limiting mistakes and not giving up too much on the defensive side of the ball. Memphis has the offense to play with teams, they just need to tighten things up down the stretch.