Memphis lost its second game of the season Friday night in New Orleans to Tulane. Charles Huff’s team turned the ball over six times and missed opportunity after opportunity to suffer a 31-17 loss in the Big Easy.
The first half couldn’t have gone any worse for the Tigers. Memphis’ offense recorded only 195 yards of total offense, and it only scored twice in the first two quarters.
After getting a three-and-out, Huff’s team drove down the field on their first drive to take a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, but they struggled after that.
Marcus stokes fumbled the ball on the second drive of the game to stop a five-play drive.
On the other side, the Tigers defense forced three-straight three-and-outs, but Huff’s team couldn’t capitalize on many of the stops. Memphis scored its first touchdown of the game with a 76-yard pass to Stonka Burnside to take a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter.
The Tigers’ offense went ice cold after that.
Stokes fumbled on the next drive, which was the first of the next eight drives that ended in either a punt or a turnover. Manny Covey fumbled the ball for Memphis’ third fumble of the game, and Stokes threw a pick-six as time expired in the first half.
On the other side, the Green Wave’s offense started building confidence behind true freshman Trace Johnson, and they scored on three-straight drives before the pick-six to take a 23-10 lead into the half.
It was more of the same in the second half.
The Tigers started with the ball and put together a 12-play, 72-yard drive, but they couldn’t convert on a fourth-and-goal. On the next drive, Stokes’ throw tipped off a receivers hand and landed in the hands of defensive back Kevin Adams III.
Memphis didn’t get the ball again until the fourth quarter, but the Tigers’ defense kept them in the game. The defense forced a pair of punts and a missed field goal.
After another turnover on downs early in the fourth quarter, Kevin Decker’s offense finally found the end zone to cap off a 13-play, 78-yard drive when Stokes found Jemyri Davis for the team’s second touchdown of the game.
The Tigers looked to get a stop on defense and held the Green Wave to a fourth down, but Will Hall elected to roll the dice and go for it. They handed the ball to Johnnie Daniels, and he broke free for a 48-yard touchdown to put the game away.
With the game already out of reach, the Tigers drove down the field, but Stokes threw his third interception of the game trying to find a receiver in the end zone.
Memphis finished the game with 482 yards of total offense, but it turned the ball over five times and went 2-for-5 in the red zone and 2-for-11 on third downs.
Stokes finished the game 20-for-37 for 306 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Burnside led the team with 151 yards and a touchdown on seven catches, and Jaylin Carter added 124 yards on 22 attempts.
On the other side, Johnson went 11-for-21 for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and Tulane ran for 151 yards and a rushing touchdown.
With the loss, the Tigers drop to 5-2 on the year and 2-1 in conference play. Memphis will return to the Bluff City for a home game next Thursday against East Carolina.