Tigers defense batten down the hatches in the 2nd half for win over Navy Midshipmen 28-24
by Don Mooney
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tough evening of grind-out football. Yet the University of Memphis Football Tigers continued their five-game winning streak against Navy, 28-24 Thursday night at Liberty Stadium. Tigers improved to 3-0 on the season and to 1-0 in American Athletic Conference (AAC) play.
Running back Blake Watson stole the show for Memphis, carrying 10 times for 169 yards adding six catches for 68 yards. The Old Dominion transfer came alive in the second half against the Midshipmen (1-2, 0-1 AAC), piling up 146 rushing yards, including a pair of 69-yard rushes.
Defensively, linebacker Chandler Martin led Memphis in tackles for a second-straight game, totaling a game-high nine stops and one tackle for loss. Linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku posted eight tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble, while defensive lineman Josh Ellison had seven stops and one sack.
Tigers forced two Navy fumbles on the night, extending the team’s impressive turnover streak. Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 18 of its last 21 games, including 13 contests during that stretch with multiple takeaways.
Trailing 14-7 in the second quarter, the Tigers’ defense forced a turnover on downs to give the offense the ball back with 1:19 left in the half. Memphis drove down the field in eight plays, tying the game at the break at 14-14 on a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Seth Henigan to wide receiver Roc Taylor.
Henigan finished the night completing 23-of-35 passes for 218 yards and a score to go with a pair of second-half rushing touchdowns. Taylor ended the game with six receptions for a game-high 68 yards and a TD.
With Memphis leading 28-24, Navy had one last gasp to earn a road win with ball on their own 49-yard line with 2:18 remaining. The Midshipmen drove down the field, with the game coming down to a 4th-and-6 at the Memphis 15-yard line. Navy completed the pass and were given the first down, but after review, the officials overruled the call, clinching the victory for the Tigers on the turnover on downs.
Memphis improved to 43-7 (.860) at home since head coach Ryan Silverfield joined the coaching staff in 2016. As a head coach, Silverfield is 18-4 (.818) at the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
The Tigers will head to St. Louis to face Missouri on Saturday, Sept. 23 at The Dome at America’s Center. The game is slated for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff and will be televised nationally on ESPNU.