The Memphis Tigers kept their conference hopes alive with a hard-fought 27-20 victory over the Rice Owls at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Friday, November 8. Despite early offensive struggles, Memphis rallied to improve to 8-2 in front of 23,692 fans.
Head coach Ryan Silverfield praised the Tigers’ ground game, saying, “We always want to be the aggressor. They have a good pass defense. They allowed some run lanes to be there. The offensive line wasn’t perfect. It was great to see Mario [Anderson] break some runs. It was good to have Brandon Thomas back.”
The Tigers’ offense had a slow start, managing only 24 total yards in the first quarter, and quarterback Seth Henigan threw an interception. However, Memphis’ defense kept them in the game, limiting Rice to two field goals for a 6-0 lead. Memphis found its rhythm in the second quarter, with Henigan connecting on a touchdown pass to Brendon Doyle, followed by a 10-yard rushing touchdown from Mario Anderson to go up 14-6.
Rice responded with a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback E.J. Warner to Matt Sykes, but Memphis answered with a field goal from Tristian Vandenberg to lead 17-13 at halftime.
In the second half, the Tigers’ defense stepped up again. Chandler Martin recovered a fumble on the Rice 5-yard line, his fourth recovery of the season, tying him for the national lead. Brandon Thomas then capped off a 92-yard drive with a powerful 14-yard touchdown run, extending Memphis’ lead to 24-13.
Silverfield spoke highly of Martin’s playmaking ability, saying, “He has a knack for finding the football. I think he is an All-American. He does it right, whether he is making tackles, finding the football or being a leader. He is the leader of our defense.”
Vandenberg added a 42-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to make it 27-13, but Rice kept fighting. Warner found Elijah Mojarro for a 5-yard touchdown to close the gap to 27-20 with under two minutes left. Memphis secured the win by running out the clock with a final first down.
Rice (3-7) was led by Warner, who threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Quinton Jackson rushed for 70 yards on six carries, and Sykes had six catches for 76 yards.
The game saw a frightening moment when Memphis’ Karmelo Overton was injured in the second quarter and transported to Regional One Hospital for further evaluation. No updates on his condition were available after the game.
Martin led the Tigers’ defense with 11 total tackles, including nine solo. Davion Ross added nine tackles as the defense turned in one of its stronger performances of the season.
Reflecting on his season, Martin said, “I have to shout out my front. I have a different focus this year. I pride myself on being the quarterback of the defense. As long as I am improving each week, that is the thing for me.”
Anderson continued his standout season, rushing for 144 yards and a touchdown, his sixth 100-yard game of the year. He is now less than 25 yards away from a 1,000-yard season.
On approaching the 1,000-yard milestone, Anderson said, “It would mean a lot to me. The main thing is to go 1-0 each week. That is more important than any statistical season I may have as an individual.”
Henigan, who passed for 159 yards with one touchdown and one interception, is nearing the end of his college career. Reflecting on his final season, he said, “That has been the mentality in the locker room as well. We are trying to get the best out of our team and finish the right way. I have been soaking it all in and appreciating all of the little moments—the Tiger Walks and being under the lights.”
Next, the Tigers (8-2) will host the University of Alabama in the “Battle of the Bones” on Senior Day, Saturday, November 16, at 7 p.m. at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
