While the Memphis Tigers kept it close in the first half and pulled within 3 points during the third quarter, Garrett Gilbert and the SMU Mustangs dominated the end of the game and cruised to a 44-13 win.
Memphis vs. SMU 2012 final score: Mustangs dominate fourth quarter in 44-13 win
Garrett Gilbert threw for 353 yards and rushed for two scores as he led the SMU Mustangs to a big win over the Memphis Tigers.
Jim Cowsert-US PRESSWIRE
Following a successful 39-yard field goal by Tyler Spurlock in the third quarter, the Tigers cut the score to 16-13 and were within reach. However, on the ensuing drive Gilbert led the Mustangs on a 75-yard drive before rushing for a score himself from 2 yards out to put SMU up, 23-13.
In the fourth quarter, Gilbert ran for another touchdown, this time from 10 yards out, before throwing a 37-yard touchdown to Der'rikk Thompson less than two minutes later. The three-touchdown flurry from the Mustangs put the anemic Memphis offense far out of reach and SMU added to the wide margin with a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Rishaad Wimbley.
The second consecutive win for the Mustangs improves their Conference-USA record to 3-1 and evened up the overall record to 4-4. The Tigers fall to 1-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
Box Score Hero: Gilbert completed 25-of-35 passes for 353 yards through the air and one touchdown with no interceptions. He also managed to find the end zone twice as rusher, although he finished with only 2 yards on the ground.
Rankings Ramifications: Neither team was ranked, and a win over a lowly team like the Memphis Tigers isn’t going to be nearly enough to spring the Mustangs into rankings contention.
But Did They Cover? SMU was favored by 21 points over Memphis and managed to cover that with a scoring flurry in the fourth quarter.
Next Week’s Schedule: The Mustangs will look to make it three wins in a row when they travel to face UCF, while the Tigers will travel to face Marshall.
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