Memphis Football Defeats Navy, Retains Unbeaten Status

Memphis football narrowly defeated Navy 28-24 in a game that was much closer than expected. The Tigers remain undefeated.

Memphis football had a challenging but ultimately successful night on Thursday as they faced off against a spirited Navy team. Despite struggling throughout the game, the Tigers managed to grind out a 28-24 victory in front of a crowd of 25,551 fans at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

The game started with Memphis forcing a three-and-out and responding with a 13-play touchdown drive. However, Navy quickly tied the game with a 75-yard touchdown run by Alex Tecza. The Midshipmen followed this up with another impressive touchdown drive, taking a 14-7 lead and marking the first time the Tigers had trailed all season.

After a punt from Memphis, Navy was driving again, but a botched handoff led to a turnover, giving the Tigers the ball in plus-territory. Unfortunately, the drive went backwards and ended in another punt.

Just before halftime, the Tigers' defense came up with a crucial stop on a fourth-and-one, giving Memphis the ball back with an opportunity to score.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair, but Memphis managed to pull away thanks to a 69-yard run by running back Blake Watson, which set up a rushing touchdown by Seth Henigan.

Watson had another impressive 69-yard run in the fourth quarter, but unfortunately, he fumbled on the next play, giving the ball back to Navy.

There was a collective sigh of relief throughout the stadium when Navy quarterback Blake Horvath fumbled on the ensuing possession, allowing the Tigers to run out the clock. However, Henigan threw an interception, giving the Midshipmen another chance to win the game.

Navy drove down the field, but their fourth-down conversion fell inches short of the line to gain, allowing the Tigers to escape with the victory.

Despite being heavy favorites and having dominant performances in their first two games, Memphis struggled against Navy's triple-option attack. The Midshipmen troubled the Tigers' defense throughout the game.

Memphis managed to eke out a win, but it was an ugly performance. They now face a challenging three-game stretch against Missouri, Boise State, and Tulane, which will likely define their season.

In the game against Navy, Memphis's defense faced its first real test of the season. After entering the game as the second-best defense in the country in terms of yards allowed and not having allowed a touchdown, the Tigers gave up their first touchdown of the season to Tecza's run. Navy continued to move the ball effectively in the first half.

The Tigers had hoped to improve their ground game this season but struggled to find success against Navy, much like in their previous game against Arkansas State. Watson was the leading rusher for Memphis but had limited room to operate. The Tigers had their best offensive drive of the half in the two-minute drill, relying heavily on quick passes.

Watson provided a spark for the offense with a dynamic 69-yard run in the third quarter, setting up a Henigan touchdown. He had another impressive run in the fourth quarter but unfortunately fumbled on the next play.

Henigan, the Tigers' third-year quarterback, once again had to carry the offense as the running game struggled. He had a solid performance, completing 23-of-35 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown. However, he also threw a costly interception late in the game.

Memphis now faces their biggest challenge of the season against Missouri, an SEC team, in a hostile environment. After an underwhelming performance against Navy, the Tigers have a chance to bounce back and prove themselves against tougher competition.

Overall, Memphis had to work hard for their victory against Navy. Despite their struggles, they managed to come out on top and remain undefeated heading into a challenging stretch of games.