2022 was a season of ups and downs for the Memphis Tigers, and yet, Coach Silverfield and his program refused to quit on each other and ended the season on a high note with a 38-10 win over Utah State in the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl. Tuesday’s SERVPRO First Responders Bowl performance from the Memphis Tigers was the best team effort we have seen all season. Utah State had no answer for the Tigers on both sides of the field.

Seth Henigan led the way for the Tigers on the offensive side of the ball, throwing for 284 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was by far the best game that Seth Henigan has had as the quarterback at the University Of Memphis. Henigan showed Tiger Nation what to expect from him at quarterback in 2023. Elsewhere around the offensive side of the ball, Memphis had a monster game from Eddie Lewis and Gabriel Rogers in the receiving core. In the rushing attack, Memphis had Jenyon Ducker and Asa Martin leading the charge with combined 126 yards and two touchdowns.

As good as the offensive side of the ball was for the Tigers, it was the defensive unit that shined the brightest in the 38-10 win over Utah State in the 2022 SERVPRO First Responders Bowl. It was Sylvonta Oliver who led the way for the Tigers on defense with two interceptions of his own. Like their counterparts on the offensive side of the ball, the performance from the defense was hands down the best performance we have seen in years from a Tigers defensive unit. Everywhere you looked, you saw a gray Memphis uniform swarming to the ball, causing havoc for Utah State. Memphis showed vast improvement on defense from where the Tigers were all season.

Many counted the Tigers out, including me, but Memphis showed flashes of excitement for the fans to look forward to in 2023. Ending the season with the 38-10 win over Utah State for the program’s 6th bowl win in school history was massive as Coach Silverfield continues to mold Memphis Football into the program we know they can become. Maybe Memphis Football is returning to the level of success they had before Silverfield took over as Head Coach. Only time will tell; enjoy the bowl win for a few weeks before turning the page to the 2023 chapter of Memphis Football. Moments like these haven’t happened often for the Memphis Football program, but when they do, it’s celebrated to the fullest extent.