Memphis Survives Wild Overtime Thriller Against UConn As Tigers Finally Close One Out

Kyle Craig | The Stateline Gazette

MEMPHIS — After a season filled with narrow losses and missed opportunities, Memphis finally flipped the script Saturday night, surviving a chaotic overtime thriller to beat UConn 38–31 and snap a string of heartbreak in dramatic fashion.

The Tigers needed everything to get there — including a walk-off touchdown in overtime and a defensive stand on fourth down — after UConn stunned the home crowd by drilling a 55-yard field goal with three seconds left in regulation to force the extra session.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we needed one like that,” Memphis coach John Horak said. “Our guys kept swinging when it would’ve been easy to fold.”

A game that refused to end

Memphis jumped out to a 14–7 first-quarter lead, but UConn steadily clawed its way back. The Huskies tied the game 14–14 by halftime and seized a 21–17 advantage after three quarters behind quarterback Joe Fagnano, who carved up the Memphis secondary throughout the night.

Fagnano threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns, repeatedly finding Skyler Bell, who finished with 161 receiving yards and two scores. When UConn lined up for a desperation 55-yard field goal as time expired, the stadium buzzed with disbelief.

The kick was good.

Suddenly, overtime.

Memphis delivers when it mattered

In the extra period, Brendon Lewis delivered the moment Memphis had been searching for all season. The quarterback finished with 301 passing yards and three touchdowns, capping the night with a strike into the end zone to give the Tigers a 38–31 lead.

The defense then sealed it.

On UConn’s possession, Fagnano moved the ball into scoring position, but Memphis generated pressure on fourth down and forced an incompletion, ending the game and igniting a long-awaited celebration.

“I told the defense, ‘Just give us one stop,’” Horak said. “They did.”

A loss that stings — and a moment of humor

For UConn, the defeat was another gut punch in a season defined by razor-thin margins.

Coach Kyle Bojda tried to keep perspective — and even found humor — afterward.

“I got a text from my brother during all that chaos,” Bojda said. “He wrote, ‘The real loser is me staying up past my bedtime listening to Chad talk about eating veggie burgers and Sun Chips.’ So at least somebody out there was suffering more than we were.”

Bojda praised his quarterback’s effort despite the loss.

“Joe was unbelievable,” he said. “We threw for almost 400 yards. We gave ourselves a chance. We just didn’t finish.”

What it means

The win keeps Memphis alive in the middle of the playoff race and provides a confidence boost after weeks of close calls. For UConn, time is running short as another strong performance slipped away.

“We’re not far off,” Bojda said. “But being close doesn’t get you in the playoffs.”

On this night, Memphis was just close enough.

Score Summary

Memphis 38, UConn 31 (OT) Memphis 14, UConn 7 — 1st Memphis 14, UConn 14 — Halftime UConn 21, Memphis 17 — 3rd 31–31 — End of regulation (UConn FG from 55 yards with 0:03 remaining) Memphis 38–31 — Overtime (Memphis TD; UConn stopped on fourth down)

Team Statistics

Memphis: 435 total yards Rushing: 134 yards, 2 TDs Passing: 301 yards, 3 TDs

UConn: 459 total yards Rushing: 64 yards, 1 TD Passing: 395 yards, 3 TDs

Individual Statistics

Passing

Memphis: Brendon Lewis 18/27, 301 yards, 3 TDs UConn: Joe Fagnano 28/36, 395 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INT

Rushing

Memphis:Sutton Smith 19 carries, 83 yards, 2 TDs Brendon Lewis 8 carries, 47 yards, Greg DesRosiers Jr. 1 carry, 4 yards

UConn:Cam Edwards 7 carries, 43 yards, Mel Brown 2 carries, 21 yards, 1 TD

Receiving

Memphis:Jerry Cross 7 receptions, 160 yardsSutton Smith 6 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD, Marcello Bussey 2 receptions, 36 yards, Cortez Braham Jr. 1 reception, 30 yards, 1 TD, Brady Kluse 2 receptions, 22 yards, 1 TD

UConn:Skyler Bell 9 receptions, 161 yards, 2 TDs, Cam Edwards 8 receptions, 85 yards, John Neider 3 receptions, 62 yards, Reymello Murphy 2 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD, Juice Vereen 6 receptions, 23 yards