Tigers Post 77-3 Victory Over Bowling Green Saturday

Saturday, September 24

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

3-0

Bowling Green

1-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Bowling Green

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers Post 77-3 Victory Over Bowling Green Saturday

Sep 24, 2016 | Football

Box Score Memphis 77, Bowling Green 3 Memphis Postgame Notes Photo Gallery Video: Sights And Sounds Video: Highlights Video: Coach Norvell Press Conference

Memphis sets or ties several school marks in the win.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Sometimes it's just your day – or in this case – night.

Junior college transfer quarterback Riley Ferguson passed for 359 yards and six touchdowns and also ran for another score in the first half only to lift the University of Memphis football team to a 77-3 win over Bowling Green Saturday night. The Tigers' largest margin of victory in the program's modern era (since World War II) came in front of a crowd of 38,713 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

The 77 points are the most scored and the 74-point margin of victory is the largest in the modern era of the program. The 11 touchdowns scored tied a school single-game record, and the Tigers' 635 yards of total offense is the fourth-most for a game in program history.

In all, 11 different Tigers scored, and the 11 touchdowns tied a school single-game record. Senior place-kicker Jake Elliott converted a school-record 11 PAT (11-of-11), and Ferguson accounted for seven touchdowns, which also tied a program single-game mark.

The Tigers defense picked off four Falcons' passes, and Memphis scored touchdowns on all four miscues. One of the interceptions was a Genard Avery 28-yard return for a score. The pick was the first of his career.

Doroland Dorceus rushed for 117 yards on nine carries and one touchdown. The 117-yard performance was his third 100-yard rushing game of his career. Dorceus led a rushing attack that piled up 240 yards.

Ferguson and Jason Stewart, who played the entire second half, spread the ball around to 12 different receivers. Tony Pollard hauled in a team-high four catches for 57 yards and one score. Pollard's touchdown reception was the first of his career. Anthony Miller had a team-best 77 receiving yards on three catches, including a 60-yard scoring strike from Ferguson in the second quarter.

The Tigers got on the board first and capped a seven-play, 66-yard drive with a Ferguson-to-Daniel Montiel 19-yard touchdown toss. The score came 1:59 into the contest.

Bowling Green scored its lone points on the ensuing drive. A Jake Suder 30-yard field goal wrapped up the 62-yard drive. The Falcons' field goal was the first points Memphis surrendered in the first quarter this season. Memphis has now outscored its opponents 70-3 in the opening quarter in 2016.

From there, it was all Memphis.

The Tigers scored four more touchdowns in the first quarter to take a commanding 35-3 advantage. The 35 points tied the school record for scoring in a quarter. Memphis also scored 35 points in the first quarter in a 62-20 win over Tulane in 1992.

Ferguson added two more touchdown tosses in the second quarter and also ran in a score from one yard out. The rushing touchdown was Ferguson's first as a Tiger.

In the second half, Memphis scored all three touchdowns on short runs by Dorceus, Patrick Taylor Jr. and Stewart.

Chris Morley, who had one of the Tigers' four interceptions, led the defense with five total stops. Avery and Shareef White each added four hits.

Memphis returns to action Oct. 1 when it takes its first road trip of 2016. The Tigers travel down the road to Oxford, Miss., to take on the nationally-ranked Rebels. ESPN2/ESPNU/SEC Network Plus is televising the 6 p.m. (CT) match-up.