by Don Mooney
Tigers came ready to play. photo by Toni Washington
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (3-1) football team picked up its third win of the season in its third-straight 500-plus yard performance of the season, defeating UT Martin (1-3) by a score of 45-21 Saturday night in Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
On a night where quarterback Marcus Stokes tied his career high in completions and posted the highest completion percentage by a Tiger since 2019, a multitude of Tigers featured and reached career milestones in the win. With a high-energy offense, Memphis also showed the ability to extend possessions, going 9-for-13 on third downs and winning the time-of-possession battle for the first time this season with 31:14 of time on offense.
Memphis opened the game with a 10-point advantage after the first quarter on a field goal by Philippe Laforg
e and a 26-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Stokes to Tychaun Chapman for Chapman’s first touchdown as a Tiger. In the first, Memphis stalled UT Martin out on each of the Skyhawks’ three drives in the quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, 23 Memphis players recorded a tackle, led byTrey McDonald’s five. photo by Toni Washington
The Tigers scored twice in the second, with Stokes finding Jaylin Carter and Jonathan Harding on touchdown passes of 17 and nine yards, respectively. The connections were the first receiving touchdowns in the careers of both Carter and Harding, leading to Memphis going into the half with a 24-7 lead.
Coming out of the half, Memphis made it five scoring drives in a row when Stokes found Hunter Tipton for a seven-yard score, giving Stokes four passing touchdowns by the 11:14-mark of the third quarter. Stokes became the first quarterback to throw for four touchdowns since Seth Henigan achieved the same feat against UAB in 2024.
Fans smell blood as the Tigers defense set an early tone. photo by Toni Washington
After making changes on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter, a trio of Tigers logged their first collegiate touchdowns on a touchdown pass from Air Noland to Joshua Joseph and a goal line touchdown run by Jordan Thompson.
photo by Toni Washington
In a true showing of a balanced offensive game plan, Memphis had 12 different players record a reception for the first time since a 2021 game against UCF, along with having a total of seven different rushers, including three quarterbacks.
Memphis’ offense was able to stay on the field and record 273 yards through the air and 299 on the ground, both being the second-highest marks of the season and combining to give Memphis 572 total yards, a season high. Keeping the offense on the field also resulted in Memphis not punting the ball a single time during the game for the first time since a 2021 matchup against Nicholls.
The Tiger rushing attack finished just a yard shy of the 300-yard mark, being led by freshman Jordan Thompson‘s 110 yards and one touchdown, with Dallan Hayden and Jaylin Carter adding 85 and 62 yards, respectively, each getting over 10 carries.
Of the Tigers’ 12 different receivers, five Tigers (Tychaun Chapman, Hunter Tipton, Joshua Joseph, Jaylin Carter and Jonathan Hardin) caught a touchdown pass in the win.
On the defensive side of the ball, 23 Memphis players recorded a tackle, led by Trey McDonald‘s five. Defensive lineman Xavier Miles also recorded his first career sack in the win.
Memphis has the week off before facing AAC conference opener on the road at Charlotte on Oct. 3.