MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Cody Clark hit a 40-yard field goal with 1:49 left to lift Middle Tennessee over Memphis 17-15 Saturday night.
Clark's kick capped an 8-play, 42-yard drive keyed by a 25-yard pass from Logan Kilgore to Tavarres Jefferson. Memphis drove to the Middle Tennessee 37 before consecutive sacks of Paxton Lynch on the game's final two plays.
Lynch had rallied Memphis from a 14-3 second-quarter deficit to a 15-14 lead as he completed his first 10 passes of the second half, including a 1-yard scoring toss to tight end Alan Cross early in the fourth quarter that gave Memphis its first lead.
Middle Tennessee led 14-6 at the half despite holding just a 167-162 edge in total offense. Memphis hurt its cause with penalties as the Tigers were flagged 11 times for 114 yards in the first half alone.