Memphis Game Recap: Tigers Start Slow, Defeat Tulane Green Wave 41-13

About a minute into the second quarter, the Tulane Green Wave had posted back-to-back 80-yard touchdown drives, while the Memphis Tigers had one drive of 52 yards that ended in a missed field goal. Tulane led 13-0 and looked like world-beaters.

With two minutes left in the third quarter, the Tigers had out-gained Tulane 254-73 in the in-between, yet still only led 18-13. Memphis was dominating everywhere but the scoreboard.

Then, before you knew it, Paxton Lynch went 2-for-2 for 68 yards and a touchdown, Tulane got sacked in the end zone for a safety, and Memphis got the ball back to romp 76 yards to the end zone. Suddenly it was 34-13 Memphis 30 seconds into the fourth quarter.

At that point it was mostly academic, and Memphis finished plugging away to a 41-13 victory over Tulane. Lynch finished the game 26-for-42 for 343 yards and a score, his seventh straight 300+ yard game. The Tigers also had Doroland Dorceus lead the team with "only" 45 yards and a score, but they also got 223 rushing yards from 10 total players.

Tulane, meanwhile, turned in only 270 total yards after that 160-yard performance on their first two drives. Jordy Joseph was inconsistent on his way to 131 yards while Dontrell Hilliard fell just shy of 100 yards rushing in the loss.

The Green Wave will return home next week to face the UConn Huskies, while Memphis will welcome Navy to town for another stout test, likely with a higher ranking after todays action.