Memphis rolls past Charlotte in 51-point win

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Memphis improved to 4-1 on Saturday with a 59-8 victory on the road against Charlotte. The game was originally scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start, but it was moved up to a 10:00 a.m. start due to a threat of inclement weather in the afternoon.

The Tigers started the game with a punt, but after getting the ball back, Marcus Stokes led a drive that ended with his first of five passing touchdowns in the game. Memphis followed that drive with two more touchdown drives to take a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.

All three touchdowns were to different receivers, including a one-handed catch that turned into a touchdown reception for Hunter Tipton.

Stokes also threw touchdown passes to Jermane Hayes and Jemyri Davis in the first half.

On the other side, the Tigers’ defense forced three straight punts before the turnovers began. With 9:58 left in the second quarter, Ian Foster recorded his first interception of the season to stop an eight-play 49ers drive.

On the next drive, Chauncey Logan Jr. ripped the ball out of running back Khamani Alexander’s hands to stop a six-play drive.

Memphis’ offense kept rolling, and it closed the first half with a short field goal to cap off a 12-play, 84-yard drive. 

Stokes finished the first half 15-for-18 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. It was another successful first half for the Tigers’ quarterback. 

Through the first halves in the last two games against UT Martin and Charlotte, Stokes has completed 90 percent of his passes for 476 yards and six touchdowns.

Charlotte opened the second half with a 75-yard touchdown run for its first and only touchdown of the game. Tim Albin’s team added the two-point conversion, but it was the last time they found the end zone.

On the next drive, Memphis went on an six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a touchdown grab for Stonka Burnside. The wide receiver went over the receiver to bring in an impressive touchdown grab.

Stokes threw his final touchdown pass on a flea-flicker to Tipton. Stokes handed the ball off to Dallan Hayden, who handed it to Burnside, who flipped it back to Stokes before he threw the touchdown pass to his tight end.

The quarterback was pulled shortly after that, and he finished the game 20-for-25 for 318 yards and five touchdowns. He added 61 yards on nine carries.

Like in the game against UT Martin, Charles Huff elected to put in the backups early in the third quarter, and Hayden and freshman Jordan Thompson both found the end zone on the ground. Backup quarterback Air Noland threw his second touchdown of the season connecting with Brady Kluse for a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers finished with 674 yards of total offense and 36 first downs. 

Defensively, Memphis held the 49ers to only 209 yards of offense, and it finished with four takeaways.

Tylon Nash led the team with four tackles and he forced a fumble, while JJ Clayton added a tackle and a fumble recovery. 

The Tigers return to action next Saturday for the Battle of the Bones against UAB.

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