Recap: Middle Tennessee State 17, Memphis 15
Sep 14, 2013
Middle Tennessee State 17, Memphis 15: Cody Clark's 41-yard field goal with 1:49 left to play lifted the Blue Raiders over the visiting Tigers.
Clark's clutch kick accounted for the only points of the second half for Middle Tennessee State (2-1) which beat its cross-state rival for the fifth time in the last six meetings. The Blue Raiders sealed the victory with consecutive sacks on the final two plays of the game, ending a Memphis drive that was nearing field goal range.
Memphis (0-2) rallied from a 14-6 halftime deficit to take a 15-14 lead on redshirt freshman Paxton Lynch's first career touchdown pass - a 1-yard connection with Alan Cross on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Tigers, however, failed to convert the two-point attempt when another Lynch pass fell incomplete.
Middle Tennessee State opened the scoring in the first quarter when Logan Kilgore connected with Kyle Griswould on a swing pass from 7 yards out. Jordan Parker added a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter while the Tigers managed only a pair of field goals by Jake Elliott before the break.
Kilgore was 22-for-36 passing for 224 yards. Lynch connected on 18-of-26 attempts for 164 yards and was intercepted twice.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Memphis' effort was marred by 15 penalties for a total of 145 yards, including a call on an 80-yard kickoff return in the first half. ...Cross has six TD receptions in his career. ... Memphis has not won at Middle Tennessee State since 1939.