By Jacob Rice
The Memphis Tigers (4-2, 3-2) kept another game interesting after they held off the South Florida Bulls (1-6, 0-5).
The Tigers hosted the Bulls and avoided a disastrous loss. Memphis found themselves trailing 27-13 but rallied to finish the game off with a 34-33 win. Memphis Coach Ryan Silverfield said he was proud of the win, but the team still needs to play smoother.
"We have got to get better, let's leave it like that," Silverfield said. "Am I happy with win? Absolutely, and I'm going to enjoy this one because they are hard to come by."
This is the second time this season Memphis overcame a multiple possession deficit and won by one point. The last time this happened was in October against UCF. The Knights had a 21-point lead and Memphis took over and ended the game with a 50-49 win.
Silverfield said the team made it happen in the second half and the first thing he told his team was he proud of them and their willingness to fight.
"I don't know what it is," Silverfield said. "But I know they are willing to fight and I'll take that over anything. We have just got to find a way start faster."
Both teams started the game with hardly any offensive rhythm. Early in the second quarter it was tied 6-6 after both teams scored two field goals. The first eight drives of the game did not result in a touchdown.
The Bulls scored the first touchdown of the game in the second quarter with a pick six. Memphis then scored their first touchdown and tied it 13-13. One play later, South Florida scored a 75-yard touchdown and lead 20-13. USF scored another touchdown and led 27-13 at halftime.
The Bulls outscored the Tigers 24-7 in the second quarter and things looked gloomy for Memphis.
The second half was a different story for Memphis. The Tigers allowed South Florida to score six points for the remainder of the game. The Bulls led by 13 points late in the third quarter.
Brady White took control of the game and led back-to-back touchdown drives in the final four minutes of the game. Memphis took the lead by one point and the Bulls collapsed against the Tigers' defense.
White said the offense understood the situation late in the game and they did not flinch at all.
"It was a hell of an effort by our entire program and our entire team," White said.
White has won 24 games as the starting quarterback for the Memphis Tigers, which is the most in the history of the program.
White also said it was not an ideal situation for the team, but they came away with the win and they can celebrate the positives and work on the negatives.
For the third time this season the Tigers got two receivers into the 100-yard category. Sean Dykes and Calvin Austin III combined for 249 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Austin III is now tied with Anthony Miller for the longest consecutive streak of 100-yard receiving games, with four.
"It is honestly just a blessing," Austin III said. "It feels great because obviously stats never really matter but they feel better when it comes with a win."
The Memphis Tigers have won 13 home games in a row, the most in school history. The Tigers are scheduled to take their luck on the road to try to beat Navy in Annapolis, MD. The next home game for the Tigers is Nov. 21 against Stephen F. Austin.
Brady Whites gazes for an open receiver. White won his 24 game at Memphis with the win over USF, giving him the most wins by any starting quarterback in Memphis history.
