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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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Memphis left Tampa with a victory and a distinction no other FBS team can claim this season.
The Tigers beat South Florida 52-41 on Thursday night, remaining the only FBS team to score at least 50 points in multiple road games this season, according to ESPN. The win improved Memphis to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in American Conference play, keeping the Tigers in the conference championship chase.
Their first road scoring eruption came in a 59-8 victory at Charlotte on Oct. 3. This one required Memphis to recover after surrendering a three-touchdown lead.
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Quarterback Marcus Stokes accounted for 386 total yards and five touchdowns, throwing for 313 yards and three scores while adding 73 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
He completed 15 of 31 passes without an interception. It was his third consecutive game accounting for five touchdowns and his fourth straight with at least 300 passing yards.
Stokes supplied all three first-quarter touchdowns as Memphis opened a 21-0 lead. He scored on runs of 47 and eight yards, with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Tipton in between.
The Tigers appeared headed toward another comfortable road win, but South Florida had other plans.
The Bulls outscored Memphis 41-17 after that opening burst, taking their first lead on Nico Gramatica’s 38-yard field goal with 8:04 remaining. Quarterback Luke Kromenhoek threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another, helping South Florida produce 552 yards of offense.
Memphis needed just 30 seconds to answer.
Stokes connected with Jemyri Davis for a 76-yard touchdown, putting the Tigers back ahead 45-41. Davis finished with five catches for 161 yards, providing the biggest play of a night filled with explosive gains.
“Digging yourself in a hole and not starting fast can really hurt you against a team that can score quickly,” USF coach Brian Hartline said, according to WUSF.
The Tigers still needed their defense to finish the job.
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South Florida reached the Memphis four-yard line on its next possession, but an incomplete fourth-down pass ended the threat. On another late possession, consecutive sacks by J’Mond Tapp helped push the Bulls into fourth-and-27. Memphis finished with a season-high seven sacks.
Jaylin Carter then delivered the final blow, running 26 yards for a touchdown with 44 seconds remaining. He finished with 109 rushing yards and two scores, passing 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
Memphis’ offense earned the national distinction. Its defense made sure that distinction came with a win.
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