The Memphis Tigers cruised to a 45-10 victory over the FCS Chattanooga Mocs to open the 2025 season in front of 25,011 fans at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Saturday.
Nevada transfer dual-threat quarterback Brendan Lewis made his Memphis debut leading a new group on offense for the Tigers, finishing 22-28 for 199 yards, a touchdown, and an interception through the air to go along with 81 rushing yards and a rushing score.
"This group really cares about one another," Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield said postgame. "Everybody embraced each other. They understand the culture that they helped create."
The game got off to a chaotic start with Chattanooga catching seemingly the entire stadium off guard, successfully recovering an onside kick to start the game.
Hoping to take an early lead, the Mocs attempted a 53-yard field goal, which was blocked by Memphis' only returning defensive starter, William Whitlow Jr.
The Tigers' first touchdown of the year came from Greg Desrosiers Jr. Memphis ran the ball six times on the opening drive, including three runs from Lewis.
Desrosiers Jr. did not play after Memphis' second drive.
"He had a lower body injury. It was my decision," Silverfield said postgame on Desrosiers' absence in the second half.
Sutton Smith burst free for a 35 yard touchdown, and Memphis took a 14-0 lead into the second quarter. Lewis scrambled for a 22-yard touchdown to quickly make it 21-0.
UT Chatt scored a field goal, before Brendan Lewis threw to a familiar face for his first passing touchdown at Memphis. Lewis found fellow Nevada transfer Cortez Braham Jr. in the back of the end zone.
"It was a really exciting moment," Lewis said. "I’m really proud of Tez, how he came in late and having to learn the playbook in such a short amount of time."
Memphis went into halftime with a 28-3 lead, with 265 yards of offense, including 163 on the ground.
The third quarter started slow, but Memphis exploded for 10 points in the span of 7 seconds. The Tigers kicked a field goal, and Memphis linebacker DeMarco Ward got a pick-six touchdown to make it 38-3.
Chattanooga found the end zone early in the fourth, but Memphis responded with another rushing touchdown, this time from Frank Peasant to cap the scoring at 45-10.
In total, Memphis rushed for 233 yards, averaging a whopping 7.1 yards per carry. Six Tigers got at least one carry, and three Tigers ran for 60 yards in Lewis, Smith, and Peasant.
Not to be outdone, the Memphis defense forced two turnovers, including a defensive score in the contest.
Silverfield's Tigers will travel to Atlanta next weekend looking to improve to 2-0 when they play at Georgia State. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.
I'm a senior journalism major with a sports media concentration. I have been at the Daily Helmsman for three years now, including two years as the sports editor.
