Twenty-eight days between games. Eleven days of practice for an outbreak of COVID-19. A 21-point deficit in the first part of Saturday.
The math didn’t work out for Memphis at SMU. They still almost recovered, but one last issue loaded them. 43.
Chris Neggar’s 43-yard basket with seconds to play gave SMU (4-0, 1-0) a 30-27 win and Memphis (1-1, 0-1) lost his first AAFC game in Dallas. learned when SMU ended a six-game loss streak opposed to Memphis.
White had two interceptions in the first half, but his third mistake proved costly. As the Tigers approached the diversity of shots defeated in the last quarter, he fired and returned the ball to SMU at 1:25 for playing.
He made three landings to bring back Memphis, adding a five-yard landing to Tahj Washington to tie the game, but that break made a difference in a game where the Tigers almost recovered for one of their biggest comebacks in recent history.
Memphis tied the game on a five-yard landing through Washington, but that was his only sign of life. The Tigers and SMU were trapped in a bind because none of the teams could simply move the ball on the field.
Memphis relied heavily on his racing game to start his rally. Dreke Clark had 98 yards on the court and Kylan Watkins added 60 yards on the court. Sean Dykes and Calvin Austin hit touchdowns, but after Washington’s score, things calmed down when SMU hit last.
Reggie Roberson did not play last year as opposed to Memphis, however, the speedy SMU reached the first half with touchdowns of 85 and 70 yards, put 243 yards in five receptions before leaving with a contactless injury in the third quarter.
Even before Roberson’s injury, the Tigers took revenge with Quindell Johnson and John Broussard regaining a break they forced. The first seven also took a step forward, keeping Ulysses Bentley IV, the country’s most productive runner, just 32 yards away.
However, missed opportunities have proven costly. Johnson allowed for a close interception in the last quarter and Shane Buechele led the Tigers in a winning series.
Patterson added to his résumé as one of the Tigers’ all-time kickers. He made a 56-yard attempt to close the first half.
He paired an AAFC program and a record set through Jake Elliott in 2013 and gave Memphis much-needed momentum 24-20.
Memphis evoked memories of his 17-point return to Houston three years ago. Given everything that happened last month, the Tigers played well for a team that dates back to education just two weeks ago.
There were time problems and the Tigers were not accurate for 60 minutes, but now they have an extra week to be healthy before receiving Nemesis UCF on October 17.
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