Big game: North Alabama vs Memphis.
Memphis needs this win to get to six wins and be bowl-eligible. This opponent has been penciled in as a win for a month or two. For Memphis that doesn’t always work out. However, Memphis is two last-play losses from being 7-3, but they are only 5-5. Let’s see in this North Alabama vs Memphis Preview why it’s a good shot…. or not.
North Alabama vs Memphis Preview
North Alabama Offense: Not the problem. Though the team has not won since September 10, it’s not the offense. The Last win was a 49-17 win against Div 2 Virginia Wise. The offense has put up 53 in a loss against Eastern KY 3 weeks ago, and 35 in a loss against Austin Peay last week. Last week ShunDerrick Powell ran for 207 yards in the close loss. For the Tigers, the always reliable Quindell Johnson is back on defense, and the rest of the defense needs to step up against a desperate team.
North Alabama vs Memphis Preview
Memphis offense: the Shocker – RB Brandon Thomas not available the remainder of the season due to undisclosed injury. It was revealed on Twitter earlier this week.
BREAKING: A source close to Memphis Football tells me running back Brandon Thomas is out for the rest of the season with an injury.
Working to clarify the nature of the injury, but the Tigers’ leading TD scorer this season is done for the year.
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) November 14, 2022
Running back Brandon Thomas was forecast from training camp to be the top RB. Last year he had 669 yards, this year (until the injury) he had 270 yards in many fewer carries. He has shared the carries with Asa Martin, who needs to have a big game. He has stepped up recently, with more carries and some good production, and needs to continue that.
QB Seth Henigan was mistake-free last week, and yet the Tigers only scored two touchdowns. They had a big help from last week’s AAC special teams player of the week, K Chris Howard. Henigan needs another clean sheet to ensure a victory over an undermanned defense this week.
North Alabama vs Memphis Preview
North Alabama defense: ouch! North Alabama has given up 40 or more five times this year. In two games they even gave up 60 plus points. The North Alabama squad made its debut as a full FCS member this year and the results have not been pretty. They were predicted sixth in the league but it’s not been good, especially on defense.
North Alabama vs Memphis Preview
Memphis Defense: Right now the defense is giving up 29 points a game. For the eye-test, though, if Xay Cullens or Quindell Johnson is missing, the defense seems to lag. Specifically Johnson missing the fourth quarter (the Houston comeback) and the ECU game missing from the whole game; you felt his absence. But yet in the Tulane game Memphis had a full crew and the defense was decimated. So hopefully the defense will scheme for the run-heavy North Alabama offense.
The intangibles for the Tigers; Senior Day. Is this enough; will the Seniors carry them? This needs to be a “get-right game” for the Tigers. With Cullens, Johnson, Henigan, and Asa Martin being healthy, there’s no reason the Tigers can’t put up a big number. The Tigers are one of the highest power ranked teams North Alabama has played this year.
And Coach Silverfield really, really doesn’t want to depend upon an upset against SMU this next weekend to become bowl-eligible. This makes the Magic Six that makes the seat a little less hot; especially with a program like the Memphis Tigers that has been good recently – but is not a traditional power.
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