2016 Week 4 Recap: Memphis Extends Bowling Green’s Free Fall

The complete and utter free-fall continues for the reigning Mid-American Conference champions, as the Bowling Green Falcons were humiliated again on national television Saturday night, in a 77-3 loss to the Memphis Tigers.

The Tiger defense intercepted quarterback James Knapke three times in the Falcon’s first five possessions, enroute to taking a 35-0 lead in the first quarter alone. But they didn’t stop there. The Tigers scored three more unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter to take an astounding 56-3 lead into the locker room at half time.

Playing mostly reserves the entire second half, Memphis was able to keep the Falcons out of the end zone while still managing to score three additional touchdowns themselves. This is the second time Bowling Green has surrendered 77 points this season. The Ohio State Buckeyes put up the same point total on the Falcons in the season opener.

However, that was the number two ranked team in the country. This was a team that’s not even considered the best team in the American Conference.

The Tigers rolled up 635 yards of total offense, including 395 through the air. Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson finished 20-27 for 359 yards and six touchdown passes, and ran for another. Imagine what his stats would have looked like if he would have played in the second half? All six of Ferguson’s touchdown passes went to a different Tiger receiver.

Knapke was replaced midway through the second quarter after going six for 13 for 82 yards and those three interceptions. His replacement, redshirt freshman James Morgan didn’t do much better but at least he didn’t throw it to the other team as much. Morgan finished 17 of 34 for 126 yards and an interception of his own.

The Falcons now stand at 1-3 on the year and will start MAC play next week at home against the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Memphis is now 3-0 and will play their first road game of the year next Saturday at Ole Miss.