JONESBORO, Ark. – The University of Memphis football team earned a hard-fought, 55-50 win against Arkansas State at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Ark. on Saturday night. The 2-0 start for the Tigers is the fifth in the last seven seasons for the program.
The Tiger offense was nearly unstoppable on the night, as the team racked up 680 total yards, including 417 yards passing and 263 yards rushing. The 680 total yards are the most for the team since gaining 703 in a win over UCF on Oct. 17, 2020.
True freshman quarterback Seth Henigan was tremendous, completing 22-of-33 passes for 417 yards and five touchdowns. Henigan’s 417 passing yards rank eighth all-time in program single-game history. Redshirt freshman running back Brandon Thomas rushed for a game-high 191 yards on just 18 carries with two scores.
Redshirt senior Calvin Austin III had a career day, reeling in six catches for 239 yards and three touchdowns. Austin III’s 239 receiving yards rank second in school history behind Anthony Miller’s 250 against Tulsa on Oct. 29, 2016.
Fifth-year tight end Sean Dykes also put up big numbers against the Red Wolves (1-1), totaling 143 yards on a game-high nine receptions with two scores.
After jumping out to a 20-10 lead after the first quarter, the Tigers took a 34-23 lead into the half. With each team scoring one touchdown in the third, the teams traded scores in the fourth quarter. Leading 55-50, Memphis punted away to A-State with just 53 seconds left in the game. The Tiger defense came up with the stop the team needed, as a Red Wolves’ heave as time expired fell incomplete.
Big plays were the name of the game for Memphis in the win, as the team had six scoring plays of over 40 yards. Thomas’ two touchdown runs of 70 and 75 yards marked the first time in school history a Tiger accomplished that feat.
Defensively, fifth-year linebacker Thomas Pickens had a career-high 10 tackles to lead the Tigers, while redshirt junior linebacker Jaylon Allen had career-highs with two tackles for loss and one sack. True freshman defensive back Greg Rubin had seven tackles and six pass breakups.
The 55 points were the most for Memphis on the road since a 59-41 win at East Carolina on Nov. 3, 2018. The victory for the Tigers in Jonesboro is the first since Sept. 18, 2004.
The Memphis Tigers will return to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18 to host SEC rival Mississippi State at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.