Memphis defeats WVU in Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl for 11th win of season

FRISCO, Texas. (WMC) - Memphis Tigers football team won their 11th game of the season, defeating the West Virginia Mountaineers 42-37 in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl on Tuesday night at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

The Tigers conclude the season 11-2 overall, with the second-most wins in program history and 11-plus victories for only the second time in 109 years of Tiger Football.

Ryan Silverfield is the only head coach in the program’s history to win five bowl titles.

Tiger quarterback Seth Henigan was named the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl Offensive MVP after completing 18-of-26 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns.

He also ran for 61 yards eight times against the Mountaineers (6-7), totaling 355 yards in his 50th and final start for Memphis.

In the victory, Henigan surpassed 14,000 career throwing yards, putting him at No. 13 in NCAA history with 14,266 yards.

Henigan also threw his 104th touchdown pass, tying Clayton Tune of Houston for the American’s career record.

Demeer Blankumsee led the Tigers with 120 yards and a touchdown on four catches, while Roc Taylor caught five passes for 116 yards.

The Tigers totaled 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.

Mario Anderson Jr. led the backfield with 70 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries.

Greg Desrosiers Jr. carried the ball just twice, but he made it count with a 48-yard touchdown run.

Brandon Thomas also scored in the fourth quarter, bringing his career total to 35 (top five all-time in Memphis).

Chandler Martin was all over the field Tuesday night, making a Memphis career-high 17 tackles, including seven solo stops, tying Shareef White’s record for most total tackles in Memphis bowl history (17 vs. Auburn in 2015), and winning the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl Defensive MVP award.

Elijah Herring had a season-high 10 tackles and intercepted a pass in the final seconds to help Memphis win.

In his 40th start for Memphis, senior defensive back Greg Rubin recorded eight tackles (three solo), a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble that Mond Cole recovered.

Defensive back Kobee Minor had seven stops and one pass breakup.

The Tigers are 21-5 in the last two seasons, the most victories in two years in Memphis history.

Since its victory against UAB last year, Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 16 of its previous 20 games. Over that time, the Tigers have generated 37 takeaways (19 INT, 18 FR).

The Tigers have scored 20 or more points in 40 straight games, the nation’s longest current run, dating back to a 33-28 victory over Tulane on November 27, 2021.

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