Motivation is always a big factor in bowl games and there were plenty of folks wondering if Memphis would be properly enthused at playing in the Birmingham Bowl on Saturday afternoon just a few weeks after losing their conference title game.
Probably safe to say that they are. So was their opponent.
The Tigers scored on offense, defense and special teams to jump out to a 28-24 lead over Wake Forest at halftime in an impressive showing from both sides as momentum changed hands several times.
Memphis QB Brady White was 7-of-10 for 69 yards and a touchdown pass but barely needed to break a sweat given how good his teammates were on the day. That’s particularly true of Tony Pollard, who did a bang up job of filling in for leading rusher Darrell Henderson (who has moved on to the NFL draft process).
In the first half alone, Pollard rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown plus returned a kickoff nearly untouched 97 yards for another score. It was his seventh kick return touchdown, tying the NCAA record in the process.
The Tigers also put together a 16 play, 98 yard scoring drive in the first quarter and saw Chris Claybrooks add in a 37 yard pick-six in the second quarter to help cap off an impressive effort in the first half.
Though Wake Forest did give up all those non-offensive touchdowns, the Deacs have to be happy at their resolve in battling back from being down 18 at one point. Signal-caller Jamie Newman started fast in leading a game-opening scoring drive and finished with 159 yards and a touchdown (plus that one interception) but really did his damage on the ground by running for 79 and a pair of scores.
Playing without top target Greg Dortch (hand injury), Newman really spread the ball around in the passing game and had already connected with eight different receivers in the first half.
While it at times looked like this bowl game would get out of hand in favor of either side, both have battled back to make things quite interesting as we hit the break. It should result in a fun second half as the final Saturday before the College Football Playoff gets underway is off to a great start.
