NEW ORLEANS – The University of Memphis (5-2, 2-1 American) football team was doomed by its most turnovers since 2006 in a 31-17 loss at Tulane on windy Friday night inside Yulman Stadium.
Despite amassing nearly 500 yards of total offense (488) and producing its first 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver in the same game this season, six turnovers (three interceptions and three fumbles) dashed any chance Memphis had of overcoming a 13-point halftime deficit.
Quarterback Marcus Stokes recorded his third 300-yard passing game of the season, completing 20-of-37 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns with a season-high three interceptions.
Sophomore Jaylen Carter picked up his third 100-yard rushing game of the season, collecting 135 yards on a season-high 23 carries. Stonka Burnside had his best game as a Tiger, recording career highs in receptions and receiving yards with seven catches for 151 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers' opening drive resulted in a 44-yard Philippe LaForge field goal to give Memphis an early 3-0 lead. Stokes found Jemyri Davis for a 48-yard connection down the Memphis sideline on the Tigers' first offensive play, setting up the LaForge field goal.
Following a 56-yard Tulane field goal that leveled the score at 3-3, Stokes found Burnside crossing over the middle for a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown to give Memphis a 10-3 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Tarik Ahmetbasic's kick was held up in the wind and recovered by the Tigers' Jaylen Lewis at the Tulane 25-yard line. However, the second strip-sack of Stokes gave the momentum back to Tulane. Two drives later, the Green Wave converted a short field to cut the Memphis lead to 10-6.
Manny Covey committed the Tigers' third turnover of the half, snapping a 35-game streak of two or fewer turnovers for Memphis. Covey's first fumble of the year resulted in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Tulane freshman quarterback Trace Johnson to Destyn Hill, giving Tulane its first lead of the game, 13-10, with 4:16 remaining in the half.
Tulane took a 16-10 lead following Tulane kicker Cooper Helmke's third field goal of the half. After a quick series from the Tigers, Ahmere Foster intercepted a Johnson pass to put Memphis in plus territory. The momentum was quickly erased when TJ Smith undercut a Stokes pass to the far sideline and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown with just six seconds left in the half. It was Memphis' fourth turnover of the half while Stokes was sacked five times in the opening 30 minutes. Tulane scored all 23 first-half points in the second quarter to take a 23-10 lead into halftime.
Memphis successfully moved the ball into the red zone on both of its third-quarter drives. However, Tulane continued its staunch defensive play, stopping the Tigers on fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line before intercepting another Stokes pass that ricocheted off Tychaun Chapman at the Tulane 5-yard line. All five of Memphis’ second-half drives found their way into the red zone, however, the Tigers were only able to convert one of those drives into points.
Memphis found life late when Stokes connected with Davis for a 6-yard touchdown with 3:34 remaining, but Tulane put the game away by converting fourth-and-1 into a 48-yard touchdown run by Johnnie Daniels.
The six turnovers were the most committed by Memphis since 2006 against East Carolina, when the Tigers threw five interceptions and lost one fumble.
UP NEXT
Memphis (5-2, 2-1) returns to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium next Thursday to host East Carolina (3-3, 1-1) at 6:30 pm CT on ESPN2. ESPN's 'SportsCenter on Campus' will be live from Tiger Lane at 4 pm leading up to the game.
Memphis' CFP Hopes Likely Dashed with Brutal Road Performance
Memphis' CFP Hopes Likely Dashed with Brutal Road Performance
