Winners from Memphis’ 51-point win over Charlotte

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Memphis improved to 4-1 on the season with a 59-8 win over Charlotte. It was the Tigers’ first game in conference play, and it was the team’s first game after their first open date of the season. 

After punting on the first drive of the game, Memphis scored on five of the next six possessions, and it didn’t finish a drive with points on two drives. The offense recorded 674 yards of total offenses, including 288 yards on the ground.

Jaylin Carter led the team in rushing, but five players finished with 30 or more yards on the ground. It was another game where Charles Huff elected to insert the backups in the third quarter, and freshman Jordan Thompson finished with 48 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Marcus Stokes

Marcus Stokes had another big outing for the Tigers, and he finished 20-for-25 for 318 yards and five touchdowns. The five touchdowns tie a career-high that he set last year at West Florida in a regular season game against Valdosta State.

He also showed off his athleticism and running ability by adding 61 yards on nine carries, including a 21-yard run.

It was another impressive first half for the quarterback, and he went into the locker room 15-for-18 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. In the last two first halves, Stokes has completed 90 percent of his passes for 476 yards and six touchdowns.

After the half, Stokes returned and threw two more touchdowns to Stonka Burnside and Hunter Tipton before Huff made the decision to put in Air Noland.

Stokes spread the ball around all afternoon, and 13 different receivers caught a pass during the game. On the year, the starting quarterback has thrown for 1,371 yards, 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

Jermane Hayes

Jermane Hayes followed Huff and the coaching staff from Southern Miss, and it’s been a slower start for the sophomore receiver. Hayes entered the game with 119 yards and a touchdown on 16 catches, but he was one of the best players on the field on Saturday.

Hayes finished the game with 123 yards and a touchdown on six receptions, and he averaged 20.5 yards per reception.

The receiver caught the first touchdown of the game on a 93-yard reception on Memphis’ second drive of the game. He recorded four more catches in the second quarter, including two receptions that picked up first downs for the Tigers, before he brought in his final catch in the third quarter.

There hasn’t been a go-to receiver for Stokes this season, but it would be a huge addition if Hayes can turn into a big-play target for the quarterback.

Defense

The defense as a whole is going to be grouped together because a lot of guys pitched in to lead a great performance. The Tigers’ defense held Charlotte to only eight points and only 209 yards of offense.

The 49ers scored their only touchdown on a 75-yard run to open the second half. If you take away that one play, Memphis gave up 134 yards. Charlotte only threw for 77 yards, and the Tigers’ defense recorded four takeaways.

Ian Foster recorded his first interception of the season in the second quarter to stop an eight-play drive, and on the next possession, Chauncey Logan Jr. ripped to ball out of Khamani Alexander’s hands and jumped on it for a fumble recovery.

The weather became a factor in the second half, and after the Tigers made it 38-8 in the third quarter, Charlotte’s returner Derrick Eley lost the ball on the kick return, and JJ Clayton recovered it. A few drives later, 49ers’ quarterback Cole Gonzales fumbled the snap and Clayton jumped on it for his second fumble recovery of the game.

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