Greg Desrosiers Jr. captured 2 scoring passes and ran for a goal, and Memphis beat No. 18 Tulane 34-24 on Thursday night to end the Green Wave’s long-shot quote for a berth in the College Football Playoff.
While Tulane (9-3, 7-1 American Athletic) was not likely to make the brand-new 12-team CFP, it had to win its regular-season ending and next week’s conference title videogame to have a opportunity.
Instead, the Green Wave turned the ball over 3 times deep in Memphis area as their streak of regular-season conference success ended at 17.
Two turnovers by Tulane came after long receptions at or inside the Memphis 10-yard line.
Tigers defensive back Kourtlan Marsh triggered both fumbles, the veryfirst when he leveled Yulkeith Brown minutes after his 40-yard catch. AJ Watts recuperated at the 10 and returned it 37 backyards, starting a drive that ended with Desrosiers’ 29-yard goal run on third-and-4 to offer Memphis (10-2, 6-2) a 27-10 lead.
In the 4th quarter, with Tulane tracking 27-17, Mario Williams fumbled at the Tigers 9 after carrying in a 55-yard pass and Marsh recuperated.
Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah was lateron obstructed at the Memphis 2 by Davion Ross, and the Tigers reacted with a game-sealing, 98-yard drive topped by Mario Anderson Jr.’s 47-yard goal run.
Seth Henigan finished 22 of 29 passes for 218 lawns and 2 TDs without a turnover for Memphis, which amountedto 454 backyards versus a Tulane defense that had enabled simply 9 points in its previous 3 videogames integrated. Anderson hurried for 177 lawns on 24 brings.
Mensah passed for 317 lawns and 2 TDs, and Arnold Barnes ran for a 2-lawn rating.
Tulane offered up a goal on Memphis’ opening drive when Henigan hit Desrosiers for the veryfirst of his 2 goal captures — a 17-yard, jumping grab in tight protection.
Tulane’s just lead came when Williams’ 7-lawn TD catch made it 10-7 late in the veryfirst quarter.
But Desrosier’s 25-yard catch and run put the Tigers back in front for excellent in the 2nd quarter.
The Takeaway
Memphis: The Tigers looked encouraged and focused regardlessof being out of the conference title photo. Offensively, they transformed 10 of 16 3rd downs to aid them exceed the 20-point plateau for a 39th straight videogame. The defense, ontheotherhand, was disruptive and opportunistic.
Tulane: The Green Wave looked tight early. Receivers dropped anumberof passes and Tulane’s generally efficient run plan did not appear to match up well with a Memphis run defense that ranked 18th nationally. Missed dealswith on defense and problem getting third-down stops made for a rough night.
Poll ramifications
Tulane may drop out of the AP Top 25, decreasing the magnitude of next week’s AAC champion videogame.
Up next
Memphis: Awaits a bowl quote.
Tulane: Will play Army on Dec. 6 in the American Athletic Conference champion videogame at a website to be identified.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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