Jeremy Johnson and Auburn found a measure of redemption and, finally, something to celebrate in their season finale.
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Scoring grabs of 50 and 6 yards by Ridley were sandwiched around cornerback Cyrus Jones’ 57-yard punt-return touchdown. But midway through the second quarter Bama gained momentum on both sides of the ball. “Alabama had a great game”.
Johnson led three touchdowns drives in a 5-minute span starting late in the third quarter.
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No. 1 Clemson dominated No. 4 Oklahoma in the second half of Thursday’s Orange Bowl en route to a 37-17 win. The second quarter followed a similar path until Jake Coker hit Calvin Ridley for a 50-yard pass.
Quarterback Paxton Lynch leads the charge for the Memphis Tigers in the Birmingham Bowl.
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We hope that he can recover as soon as he can, but it’s very important until we solve this to defend the way we did in this game”. And pressed on his January plans, Pellegrini said: “I think the squad is complete”.
Lance Thompson, who was given the assignment of directing the defense after Will Muschamp left to become head coach at SC, had high praise for the players along with the other defensive coaches that included graduate assistant Blake Gideon handling the defensive backs, defensive analyst Travis Williams coaching the linebackers and Rodney Garner continuing in his role as the defensive line coach.
In a bowl matchup of the SEC and the AAC, the Auburn Tigers used a dominant defense to roll to a 31-10 win over the Memphis Tigers in Birmingham.
Johnson got it done again in the first play of the fourth quarter, rushing a touchdown in the redzone to put Auburn up 24-10.
A video has emerged on social media that seems to show Memphis cornerback, Reggis Ball (#39), engaging in an altercation with Auburn’s ball boy and stealing a game football before running off the field. Considered one of the top National Football League draft prospects, the Auburn defense was humbling to say the least. Even if Memphis stays in this game, which they should for a majority if not all of it, they’ll do it by slowing down the Auburn run game and getting the ball back to Lynch. Johnson finished the game with 1 for 1 in passes completed, 11 passing yards and a touchdown.
“This game today is special, because it’s personal”, Robinson said. Memphis emerged victorious in two prior games in 1975 and 1976.
NOTES: Memphis and Auburn met only twice in football before Wednesday’s game. Auburn defenders got in Lynch’s face and in throwing lanes all afternoon and Lynch had the worst game of his season. The one Memphis points in this one came on a pick-six by Reggis Ball & Jake Elliott’s 53-yard field goal.
“He handled himself like a champ”, said coach Gus Malzahn. We harassed him a lot. Fans across the state were excited to see their team make it to a bowl game, considering the season record was 6-6. The only touchdown for the American Conference team came on an interception return. He opened the season as a potential Heisman Trophy contender, was benched and reclaimed the job when White sustained a knee injury. Memphis is allowing just 3.4 yards a carry.
“We just have to do our best and go out and continue to prove that University of Memphis football is serious and we’re a big deal”, McManis said.
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White was 8 of 13 for 103 yards. Memphis is in the midst of its best run in school history, was seeking its second consecutive 10-win season and the chance to go 2-0 against the league that casts the longest shadow.
