No. 22 Tigers’ Comeback Bid Falls Short Against Tulane
MEMPHIS, Tenn.– The 22nd-ranked University of Memphis (8-2, 4-2 American) football team came up just short in attempting to mount a 21-point comeback, falling by a score of 38-32 to Tulane (7-2, 4-1 American) Friday night at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Redshirt senior quarterback Brendon Lewis finished 29-for-34 for 317 yards, a new career-high for the Memphis playcaller, and two scores while Arrington Maiden took quality snaps for the Tigers going 4-of-6 in the air for 51 yards and ran in a touchdown of his own, the first of his collegiate career.
Wide receiver Cortez Braham Jr. finished with his third 100+ yard reception game of the season with a game-high 113 yards on 11 targets. Brady Kluse caught his second touchdown of the season while adding in six catches for 83 yards – a career high, while Jamari Hawkins pulled in his first career touchdown on five catches for 98 yards.
Linebacker Sam Brumfield recorded his third consecutive game of 10 or more tackles with a game-high 11. Chauncey Logan Jr., Drue Watts and Kamari Wilson all added in six each.
The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 50-consecutive games – the longest active streak in the nation – dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021. Memphis has scored at least 15 points in 85-consecutive home games – the second-longest active streak in the FBS and fourth-longest streak overall since 1978.
Dating back to a win over UAB during the 2023 season, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 25 of the last 30 games. Over the stretch the Tigers have created 55 takeaways (32 interceptions, 23 fumble recoveries).
After Tulane opened the game with a one play, 65-yard scoring touchdown, Memphis answered right back with a 55-yard shot from Brendon Lewis to Jamari Hawkins for his first career touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 10:38 left on the clock in the opening quarter.
The Tiger defense stuffed the Green Wave late in the first quarter when William Whitlow Jr. sacked Jake Retzlaff to lead to Tulane to turn the ball over on downs.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Arrington Maiden got his first career touchdown on a read option early in the second quarter to tie the game back up. Tulane got two more scores within three minutes of each other to take a two-score lead.
Place kicker Gianni Spetic booted in a 49-yard field goal with four and a half minutes left in the second quarter to cut into the Tiger’s deficit, but the Green Wave punched in another touchdown just before the end of the half to take the 35-17 lead into the break.
The only points Tulane would get in the entire second half would come on a 30-yard field goal early in the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Frank Peasant hit paydirt for his seventh score of the season on a one-yard run. Seven minutes later, Lewis connected with wide receiver Brady Kluse for a 25-yard route to make it a six-point deficit.
Memphis would get the ball back twice before the end of the half, one resulting in an interception and one as a turnover on downs thwarting the Tiger’s comeback and suffering the 36-32 loss.
The Tigers are now 40-for-41 in red zone possessions this season, ranking first in the conference and third in the country, including scoring a touchdown on 33 of 41 trips in the red zone.
UP NEXT:
Memphis is back on the road next week when it travels to Greenville, N.C. to take on the Pirates of East Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT with coverage available on ESPNU.