NIL ain't saving Memphis… #1 NIL Tigers fall to UTSA in AAC
Final: UTSA 44 Memphis 36 -- Next AAC Cupcake opponent for Memphis is Rice at Simmons Bank Lib. Stadium
Memphis' Comeback Bid Falls Short at UTSA
SAN ANTONIO – The 25th-ranked University of Memphis football team fell on the road to UTSA, 44-36, on Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Full analysis and more Monday (11/4) live on 92.9 FM ESPN, Memphis' Sports Station.
Senior quarterback Seth Henigan threw for a season high 454 yards on 35-of-52 passing with four touchdowns and one interception. It marked the second-most yards of his career (463).
Wide receiver Demeer Blankumsee matched his career high with 142 yards on six catches, two of which were touchdowns. All of his work came in the first half. Roc Taylor hauled in a game-high eight balls for 111 yards and Koby Drake caught five passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. It marked the second time this season a pair of Tigers have each gone over 100-yards through the air.
The Tigers led 24-10 midway through the second quarter after a 69-yard Henigan to Blankumsee connection. However, the Roadrunners got three points on a 53-yard field goal by kicker Tate Sandell and scored a touchdown to tie the game at 24 points apiece with 1:27 remaining in the first half.
Those 10 points started a stretch of 30-unanswered points for UTSA as it took a 44-24 lead with just 2:43 to play. Memphis rallied with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Henigan to wide receiver Koby Drake to trim the lead to 14 points with 1:47 remaining.
A successful onside-kick by Caden Costa was recovered and the Tigers marched down the field once again – scoring on a deflected pass from Henigan that ended up in the hands of Anderson Jr. to trim the deficit to 44-36. The Tigers went for two but were unsuccessful, leading to a second onside-kick attempt that the Roadrunners came up with.
Running back Mario Anderson Jr. finished the day with 53 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while adding seven catches for 35 yards and another score through the air.
Memphis totaled 516 yards of offense, outgaining UTSA by 108 yards. It marked the third game this season the Tigers have gone over the 500-yard mark offensively.
The Tigers have now scored 20 or more points in 36-consecutive games – the longest active streak in the nation – dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021.
UP NEXT
The Tigers are back at home on Friday, Nov. 8 against Rice with an 8 p.m. kickoff at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
