By Bryant Warren | We Don’t Bluff
MEMPHIS — This was more than another win for the Memphis Tigers.
It was Training Day Live.
Memphis controlled UT Martin from the opening quarter, built a comfortable lead and then turned Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium into a live evaluation session for the future of the program. The Tigers gave several young players an opportunity to prove themselves under the lights while securing a 45–21 victory in front of 30,840 fans.
Tigers Take Control Early
Philippe Laforge opened the scoring with a 30-yard field goal, giving Memphis an early 3–0 advantage.
Quarterback Marcus Stokes then connected with Tychaun Chapman for a 26-yard touchdown. Chapman refused to go down quietly, dragging several UT Martin defenders across the goal line with him and setting the physical tone for the Tigers.
Stokes continued spreading the football around in the second quarter. He found Jaylin Carter for a 17-yard touchdown, putting the Tigers ahead 17–0.
And when Stokes looked Carter’s way, Memphis was in good hands.
UT Martin answered with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Tate Surber to Makhia Sherrard, but the Tigers responded before halftime. Stokes connected with Jonathan Harding for a nine-yard score with 37 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
It was Harding’s first collegiate reception—and he turned it into a touchdown.
Memphis entered halftime with a commanding 24–7 lead.
Stokes Leads a Balanced Attack
UT Martin’s defense showed flashes of toughness, but the overall offensive performance from Memphis proved too much to contain.
Stokes completed 26 of 32 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns, finishing without an interception. His fourth touchdown came early in the third quarter when he found Hunter Tipton for a seven-yard score, extending the lead to 31–7.
The Tigers finished with 572 yards of total offense, including 299 yards on the ground and 273 through the air.
Memphis also recorded 28 first downs and converted nine of its 13 third-down opportunities.
The most impressive part of the offensive performance may have been how many players contributed. Twelve different Tigers recorded at least one reception, demonstrating the depth of Memphis’ passing attack.
The Future Gets Its Opportunity
With Memphis firmly in control, head coach Charles Huff could have kept his starters on the field and continued running up the score.
Instead, he used the advantage to evaluate his roster.
Huff said after the game that Memphis could have left its starters in and potentially pushed the score into the 70s. However, he wanted to give opportunities to players who had not played much—and to those who had been asking for a chance to show what they could do.
That decision transformed the fourth quarter into something bigger than garbage time.
It became an audition.
Freshman quarterback Air Noland entered the game and delivered his first collegiate touchdown pass, finding Joshua Joseph for a three-yard score. The touchdown gave Memphis a 38–14 lead and provided both players with a meaningful moment in their development.
UT Martin continued fighting against Memphis’ reserves and cut the lead to 38–21, but the Skyhawks did not have enough left in the tank to complete a comeback.
Thompson Closes the Show
Running back Jordan Thompson made the most of his opportunity.
Thompson finished with 110 rushing yards on only six carries, averaging more than 18 yards per attempt. His performance included an explosive 72-yard run that helped set up Noland’s touchdown pass to Joseph.
With 36 seconds remaining, Thompson capped the night with a one-yard touchdown run, producing the final score:
Memphis 45, UT Martin 21.
The WDB Bottom Line
The final score tells us Memphis won, but it does not tell the entire story.
The Tigers’ starters handled their business. Stokes was accurate, decisive and productive. The offense displayed balance, depth and the ability to involve multiple weapons.
Then the coaching staff used the lead to develop the rest of the roster.
Young players received real snaps. Reserves were tested in front of more than 30,000 fans. Noland threw his first collegiate touchdown pass. Thompson showed his explosiveness. Harding turned his first college reception into six points.
That experience cannot be duplicated during practice.
Memphis could have chased a more lopsided score. Instead, Huff used the night to prepare his team for the games ahead.
This was not simply Memphis beating UT Martin.
This was Training Day Live—and the Tigers may benefit from it long after the final whistle.
Final: Memphis 45, UT Martin 21
Story by Bryant Warren | Video by Anthony Robinson | WeDontBluff.net