Last gridiron go round for seniors as Tigers play last home game of the 2024 season. photo by Don Mooney
by Don Mooney
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Last home game tradition of the season for University of Memphis football means Senior Day and the 17th all-time edition of The Battle for the Bones. A 53-18 win over UAB on Senior Day at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is not a bad way to close out the season. With the victory, the Tigers completed an undefeated season at home for the first time since 2020.
Koby Drake makes remarkable effort despite interference from UAB DB. photo by Don Mooney
Defensively the Tigers managed four takeaways while Memphis’ all-time leading passer Seth Henigan combined for four passing touchdowns and 299 yards through the air on 23-of-34 passing. This gives Henigan four passing TD’s and 100 for his career making him one of three active FBS quarterbacks to reach that milestone (Dillon Gabriel; Oregon, Will Rogers; Washington).
For the seventh time this season tailback Mario Anderson Jr ran for over 100-yards. photo by Don Mooney
Memphis (9-2, 5-2 AAC) ran for 227 yards on the ground in the win over the Blazers (2-8, 1-5) to mark the sixth time this season it has rushed for over 200 yards. The Tigers were paced by senior running back Mario Anderson Jr.‘s 138 yards as he logged his seventh 100-yard effort of the campaign – the most by a Tiger since Kenneth Gainwell in 2019 (7).
Anderson Jr. became just the ninth individual Tiger to rush for 1,000 yards in a season when he broke free for a 10-yard run on the game’s opening drive that led to the 33rd rushing score of Brandon Thomas’ career and an early Memphis lead. The Tigers dug into their bag of tricks on the ensuing point-after attempt when kicker Caden Costa connected with senior long snapper Colby Cox for a two-point conversion. A 41-yard field goal by Tristian Vandenberg later in the quarter made it an 11-0 lead.
Seth Henigan added to the record books passing for four touchdowns and 299 yards. photo by Don Mooney
Senior tight end Anthony Landphere had a notable day, hauling in four passes for 45 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the first coming with 6:34 remaining in the first half to put the Tigers up 18-0. Henigan found running back Greg Desrosiers.Jr. all alone in the back of the endzone for a 19-yard touchdown strike that made the score 25-8 with 10:57 to play in the third quarter.
Tonight fans display their appreciation. photo by Don Mooney
Memphis led 25-11 entering the fourth quarter before erupting for 28 fourth-quarter points on a pair of touchdown throws by Henigan, the 16th rushing touchdown of the season for Anderson Jr. and the first rushing touchdown as a Tiger for quarterback Harris Boyd to put an exclamation mark on the win.
Tiger fandom is real in Memphis. photo by Don Mooney
Anderson Jr.’s induction into the 1,000-yard club marks the 13th 1,000-yard rushing season by a Tiger overall. In addition, it marks the sixth time in the past eight seasons that a Memphis running back has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark.
The Tigers have now scored 20 or more points in 38-consecutive games – the longest active streak in the nation – dating back to a 33-28 win over Tulane on Nov. 27, 2021. Memphis (63) is one of five teams with 60 or more home wins since 2014, along with Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Michigan.
Looks like somebody getting out da dog house tonight! by Don Mooney
Dating back to the win over UAB last year, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 14 of its last 18 games. Over that stretch, the Tigers have created 32 takeaways (17 INT, 15 FR).
Head coach Ryan Silverfield is 18-0 in his Memphis tenure when holding opponents to 20 points or less. Overall, he is 53-9 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium since joining the program in 2016, and 28-6 since taking over at the helm of the Tigers in 2020. The nine-win season gives the Tigers nine or more wins for just the 11th time in 109 seasons of football with the potential to earn a 10th win still on the table. A 10-win season would mark the first time in program history with back-to-back double-digit win seasons.
Kicker Caden Costa connects with senior long snapper Colby Cox for a two-point conversion. photo by Don Mooney
UP NEXT
The Tigers will have a bye before heading to New Orleans for a Thanksgiving night matchup at No. 25 Tulane (9-2, 7-0 AAC) to cap the regular season.