Written By: Christian Koelle
The No. 20 Memphis Tigers gave everything they had on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough for them to defeat the Iowa State Cyclones. The Cyclones raised the standard on the road to earn their first bowl victory since 2009 defeating Memphis 21-20. The AutoZone Liberty Bowl pitted two of the top underdogs against each other for a winter classic in Memphis.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from kickoff with both teams having their successes and their penalties. Memphis won the toss and chose to receive the ball in the second half. ISU quarterback Kyle Kempt made a 52-yard pass to Hakeem Butler to put six points on the board to start the game and a successful extra point made it 7-0.
Memphis struck back before the end of the first quarter when Riley Ferguson made a 10-yard pass to Anthony Miller for their first touchdown of the afternoon. A successful extra point attempt would tie it all at seven apiece.
Throughout the remainder of the first half, only one touchdown would be scored. Joel Lanning would rush two yards into the end-zone putting Iowa State up 13-7; another successful extra point would make it 14-7. A successful 34-yard field goal by Garrett Owens and Memphis would edge the Tigers within four of the Cyclones at the half.
The third quarter would be filled with back-and-forth action with both Memphis and Iowa State scoring a touchdown with the score being 21-17 with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter. The difference between the two teams would come down to a single point when Riley Patterson successfully kicked a 30-yard field goal putting Memphis within one point of tying the game.
Iowa State was on the verge of earning six more points as David Montgomery crossed the goal line, with less than two minutes remaining. The only issue was, he couldn’t hold onto the ball. A Memphis player took possession of the ball handing Iowa State it’s first and only lost fumble of the 2017 season. The one fumble would tie an NCAA record that is held by Northern Illinois (2004), Miami-OH (1998), and Bowling Green (1996).The call was reviewed but it stood, giving Memphis one final opportunity to steal the victory.
On fourth-and-10, Riley Ferguson overthrew a pass intended for Phil Mayhue turning the ball over to the Cyclones. Two victory formations later, Iowa State officially secured their first Liberty Bowl victory in three attempts. It was the Cyclones eighth victory of the season and third against a top-20 finish. The one point loss was the third loss for Memphis.
Iowa State wideout Allen Lazard caught his 10th touchdown of the season during the third quarter that ultimately earned the Cyclones the victory and Lazard a new school record. Lazard passed two of Todd Blythe’ (2004 & 2005) seasons and Quenton Bundrage’ 2013 season. Also breaking a single-season record was Memphis’ Anthony Miller who caught 96 passes for 1,462 yards, breaking his own record in both categories from last season.
Lazard was also awarded MVP of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in what could be his final season with Iowa State. Lazard could join other teammates seeking to be drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft that also includes Senior Joel Lanning. Lanning has been the heart and leader of the spark that Iowa State has shown this season. Memphis will also be losing key players Ferguson and Mayhue to the NFL Draft. Both teams will kick off their 2018 season at home with Iowa State facing South Dakota State and Memphis facing Mercer.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from kickoff with both teams having their successes and their penalties. Memphis won the toss and chose to receive the ball in the second half. ISU quarterback Kyle Kempt made a 52-yard pass to Hakeem Butler to put six points on the board to start the game and a successful extra point made it 7-0.
Memphis struck back before the end of the first quarter when Riley Ferguson made a 10-yard pass to Anthony Miller for their first touchdown of the afternoon. A successful extra point attempt would tie it all at seven apiece.
Throughout the remainder of the first half, only one touchdown would be scored. Joel Lanning would rush two yards into the end-zone putting Iowa State up 13-7; another successful extra point would make it 14-7. A successful 34-yard field goal by Garrett Owens and Memphis would edge the Tigers within four of the Cyclones at the half.
The third quarter would be filled with back-and-forth action with both Memphis and Iowa State scoring a touchdown with the score being 21-17 with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter. The difference between the two teams would come down to a single point when Riley Patterson successfully kicked a 30-yard field goal putting Memphis within one point of tying the game.
Iowa State was on the verge of earning six more points as David Montgomery crossed the goal line, with less than two minutes remaining. The only issue was, he couldn’t hold onto the ball. A Memphis player took possession of the ball handing Iowa State it’s first and only lost fumble of the 2017 season. The one fumble would tie an NCAA record that is held by Northern Illinois (2004), Miami-OH (1998), and Bowling Green (1996).The call was reviewed but it stood, giving Memphis one final opportunity to steal the victory.
On fourth-and-10, Riley Ferguson overthrew a pass intended for Phil Mayhue turning the ball over to the Cyclones. Two victory formations later, Iowa State officially secured their first Liberty Bowl victory in three attempts. It was the Cyclones eighth victory of the season and third against a top-20 finish. The one point loss was the third loss for Memphis.
Iowa State wideout Allen Lazard caught his 10th touchdown of the season during the third quarter that ultimately earned the Cyclones the victory and Lazard a new school record. Lazard passed two of Todd Blythe’ (2004 & 2005) seasons and Quenton Bundrage’ 2013 season. Also breaking a single-season record was Memphis’ Anthony Miller who caught 96 passes for 1,462 yards, breaking his own record in both categories from last season.
Lazard was also awarded MVP of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in what could be his final season with Iowa State. Lazard could join other teammates seeking to be drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft that also includes Senior Joel Lanning. Lanning has been the heart and leader of the spark that Iowa State has shown this season. Memphis will also be losing key players Ferguson and Mayhue to the NFL Draft. Both teams will kick off their 2018 season at home with Iowa State facing South Dakota State and Memphis facing Mercer.