The Tigers needed to be more physical, more disciplined and more balanced after a frustrating loss. Against UT Martin, they finally looked like a team ready for what comes next.
Memphis Fixed the Biggest Problem From Boise State
Memphis did not just beat UT Martin on Saturday night. The Tigers answered the biggest questions left behind by the Boise State loss.
A week after Boise State ran through Memphis, controlled the clock and pulled away in the second half, the Tigers came home and took control of the game from the start. Memphis beat UT Martin 45-21, moved to 3-1 and gave itself something valuable heading into the bye week: proof that it can correct problems instead of carrying them into the next game.
The Tigers rushed for 299 yards. They finished with 572 total yards. They earned 28 first downs. They committed only three penalties That is not a perfect performance But it was the type of performance Memphis needed.
The Tigers were sharper early, stronger at the line of scrimmage and more disciplined when it mattered. They built a lead, answered UT Martin when the Skyhawks scored and never let the game become a late-night problem Memphis has bigger games ahead. But Saturday was a major step in the right direction.
Memphis Started Fast
The Tigers did not let UT Martin settle into the game. Memphis scored first on a Philippe Laforge field goal, then added a 26-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Stokes to Tychaun Chapman. The Tigers led 10-0 after the first quarter. That start mattered.
Memphis spent the Boise State game trying to stay in control after the Broncos established a physical edge. Against UT Martin, the Tigers set the tone themselves. The defense forced three first-quarter punts. The offense scored on two of its first three possessions. The message was clear: Memphis was not interested in another slow, stressful night.
UT Martin eventually got on the board in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 17-7. Memphis did not panic. Stokes came right back and found Jonathan Harding for a nine-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 24-7 at halftime.
Then the Tigers opened the second half with another touchdown drive. By the time Stokes found Hunter Tipton for a seven-yard score, Memphis had a 31-7 lead and full control of the game. That is how a team responds after a loss.
The Tigers Won Up Front
The Boise State loss made one concern impossible to ignore: Memphis had to get better against the run. The Tigers improved Saturday.
UT Martin finished with 114 rushing yards on 28 attempts. Memphis did not completely shut down the Skyhawks, but it made them work for their yards and prevented the run game from controlling the entire night. More importantly, Memphis dominated the ground game on offense.
The Tigers rushed for 299 yards, averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Jordan Thompson led the group with 110 yards and a touchdown, including a 72-yard run that set up Air Noland’s first career touchdown pass. That was the difference in the game.
Memphis did not rely solely on its passing game. The Tigers could run when they wanted to run. They could throw when they wanted to throw. UT Martin never had a chance to focus on one part of the offense. That balance is the blueprint Memphis needs moving forward.
The Tigers have playmakers at quarterback, receiver and running back. But those players become even more dangerous when the offensive line is creating room and allowing the offense to stay ahead of the chains. Saturday showed what Memphis can look like when it wins the battle up front.
There Is Still Work to Do
Memphis should feel good about the result, but the Tigers cannot ignore the fourth quarter. UT Martin scored two touchdowns in the final period, including a 46-yard completion that helped set up one of those drives. The game was already decided, but those moments are still important.
American Conference opponents will not let Memphis relax late. The Tigers need to use the bye week to sharpen their run defense, improve their ability to prevent explosive plays and finish games with the same urgency they showed in the first half against UT Martin.
The good news is that Memphis has time. The Tigers do not play next week. Their next game comes Oct. 3 at Charlotte, the start of American Conference play. That gives the coaching staff time to evaluate the first four games, build on the offensive success and address the areas that could become problems later in the season.
Memphis has now won three of four games. The offense is rolling. The run game found a new gear. Stokes looked confident. The Tigers played with far better discipline.
Saturday did not erase the Boise State loss. But it proved Memphis does not have to be defined by it. The next chapter begins now.
