Arkansas State gained 434 yards and threw for 325, but Memphis forced four turnovers and made the plays that decided the game.
Tiger Stop Watch: Memphis Gave Up Yards, Then Took the Game Away
Memphis did not shut down Arkansas State. The Tigers took the game away from Arkansas State. The Red Wolves gained 434 total yards. They threw for 325. Owens completed 21 of 30 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown. Cobb caught seven passes for 112 yards. Summers added five catches for 75.
Those numbers should not be ignored. They also do not change the scoreboard. Memphis forced four turnovers, intercepted Owens twice and recovered two fumbles. Arkansas State reached the red zone three times but scored a touchdown on only one trip. That is why Memphis won 42-24.
The Takeaways Were the Difference
Arkansas State had chances early. The Red Wolves moved the football and hit several passes downfield. Owens completed throws of 40, 26, 25, 22, and 20 yards. Cobb found room. Summers produced explosive catches. Memphis could have allowed those drives to become a problem. Instead, the Tigers made the game-turning plays. The defense created three turnovers in the first half. Those possessions stopped Arkansas State from expanding its early lead and gave Memphis the chance to take control before halftime.
Memphis did not get lucky. It stayed active around the ball. It pressured the quarterback. It made Arkansas State execute over and over. Eventually, the Red Wolves cracked. The Tigers also got two interceptions from their safeties. J.D. Smith and A.J. Foster each came away with a pick, showing that Memphis’ secondary could respond after allowing too much passing production.
The Pass Defense Needs Work
Four takeaways are great. Giving up 325 passing yards is not. Arkansas State averaged 10.8 yards per pass attempt and 15.5 yards per completion. The Red Wolves picked up 13 passing first downs and 21 first downs overall. That is too much. Memphis produced only three sacks and five tackles for loss. The Tigers did not consistently put Owens behind schedule. They allowed Arkansas State to hit too many intermediate and deep passes.
A better opponent will make Memphis pay. Boise State will bring a veteran quarterback and a more polished offense. Memphis cannot rely on turnovers to erase coverage breakdowns every week. The Tigers need tighter communication in the secondary, better leverage on intermediate routes and more early-down disruption. The takeaways won Saturday. They cannot become the only plan.
Red-Zone Defense Saved Memphis
The defense gave up yards but held when the field got short. Arkansas State entered the red zone three times. The Red Wolves scored only once. They also went 1-for-4 on fourth down. That is winning defense.
When the field shrank, Memphis made the reads harder and the windows tighter. Arkansas State did not have enough room to keep living off the explosive throws that moved it down the field. The Tigers also turned Arkansas State’s aggression against it. The Red Wolves tried to stay aggressive on fourth down. Memphis made them pay. That is the difference between a defense that bends and one that breaks.
Tiger Stop Watch Grade: B.
The turnovers were excellent. The red-zone defense was decisive. The fourth-down stops mattered. Still, 434 yards and 325 passing yards cannot become the standard. Memphis took the football away from Arkansas State. At Boise State, the Tigers must prove they can take away the easy yards, too.
