A tale of two halves leads to overtime win over East Carolina

It was a tale of two halves for Memphis Thursday night, but it was able to put together enough drives in the second half to secure the win. After only scoring three points in the first half, Charles Huff’s team scored 38 points in the second half to secure the 41-34 win in overtime over East Carolina.

If you expected the Tigers to bounce back from their loss with a big first half on Thursday, you were sorely disappointed. Memphis couldn’t sustain any drives and punted the ball six times over the first two quarters.

The only points of the half came on an eight-play drive that resulted in a field goal. 

The Tigers recorded 113 yards of total offense, including 69 yards through the air, and they went 0-for-7 on third downs.

On the other side, East Carolina scored on four of their first-half drives, but the Tigers’ defense did a nice job limiting them to field goals. 

After Memphis’ field goal in the second quarter, the defense recorded its first takeaway of the game when Chauncey Logan Jr. picked off backup quarterback Mitch Griffis, but the offense went three-and-out and punted the ball back to the Pirates just 81 seconds later.

While it was an ugly half all around, the sloppiness really showed late in the first half on special teams.

Late in the second quarter, punt returner Alante Brown muffed a punt, but the Tigers were able to jump on it. On the next ECU punt, Brown fumbled on the return, and the Pirates recovered around the 50-yard line.

East Carolina turned that into a 49-yard field goal as time expired to extend its lead to 16-3 at the half.

Memphis looked a lot better out of the locker room, and it got back to it’s connections down the field. After a few short connects, Marcus Stokes connected with Jermane Hayes for a 59-yard touchdown pass to give the Tigers their first touchdown of the game.

The Pirates responded with a 9-play, 75-yard drive to regain the 13-point lead. 

The Tigers kept the success on offense rolling, and they scored again on a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard pass to Jemyri Davis.

The offense kept rolling, and after a stop by the defense, they drove down and converted a 34-yard field goal. After the Pirates responded with a field goal, Memphis was held to a punt, but ECU returner Kyler Pearson muffed the punt, and the Tigers jumped on it.

Four plays later, Stokes found Davis in the back of the end zone to tie the game. It was Davis’ second touchdown of the game, and he finished with 91 yards on seven receptions. 

The Tigers’ defense put together another stop, and the offense responded with their fourth touchdown of the second half to take their first lead of the game. After driving down the field, Stokes scrambled into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown run to make it 34-27 with 3:31 left in the game.

After struggling to get a ton going in the second half, Blake Harrell’s team put together another long drive and Griffis found Landon Sides for a touchdown pass on fourth-and-nine to tie the game with 1:30 left.

Memphis couldn’t respond, and the game went to overtime.

The Tigers started overtime with the ball, and they only needed two plays before they regained the lead. After a 20-yard pass to Davis, Stokes kept it for a five-yard touchdown run.

The Pirates put together a drive, but Griffis was picked off by Ellis Ellis Jr. on first-and-goal.

The Tigers finished with 484 yards of total offense, including 371 yards in the second half.

Stokes threw for 320 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, and he added 31 yards on seven carries. 

Memphis ran for 164 yards, and Manny Covey led the team with 79 yards on 11 carries.

The defense held ECU to 421 yards and only 231 yards in the second half.

Memphis improves to 6-2 with the win, gaining bowl eligibility for the 13th straight year. It will return to action next Saturday against Army.