In the heart of Texas on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, the stage was set for an intense showdown between the Memphis Tigers and the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Frisco Bowl. The game would prove to be a microcosm of the Mountaineers' entire season, with dynamic offensive performances often overshadowed by defensive miscues that led to crucial touchdowns.

Key Moments and Performances

Quarterback Showdown

For Memphis, four-year starting quarterback Seth Henigan was a force to be reckoned with. He completed 294 yards and two touchdowns, guiding his team to victory. On the other side, West Virginia's Garrett Greene had a remarkable game as well. He finished with his second career 300-yard passing game and two touchdowns on a season-high 22 carries. Running back C.J. Donaldson also had a significant impact, rushing for 83 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.

However, it was Henigan's big plays that often kept Memphis in the lead. One such play was his 89-yard reception to DeMeer Blankumsee, which set up a touchdown and gave Memphis some breathing room. But West Virginia fought back valiantly, with Greene's touchdown runs and Clement's catches keeping them in the game.

Defensive Struggles

The West Virginia defense faced a tough challenge against Memphis' offense. The Mountaineers' soft pass coverage allowed Henigan to connect on short passes that turned into larger gains in the open field. This led to several key touchdowns for Memphis and put West Virginia in a difficult position.

Even in the last minute of the game, there was drama. After a failed field goal, West Virginia got the ball back on their 31. They made it down to the Memphis 37 but Greene's final pass was intercepted by Elijah Herring. There was some mystery surrounding the play as the ball popped out of Herring's hands, but officials ruled that he was sliding and down before fumbling. This turned out to be a crucial play as it prevented West Virginia from tying the game.

Game Dynamics

Memphis jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first half and extended it to 28-14 at halftime. A three-yard Mario Anderson touchdown run in the third quarter made it 35-17, but West Virginia started their rally. They cut Memphis' lead to 35-30 with a 1-yard Donaldson touchdown with 12:02 left in the game. However, Memphis quickly regained their lead with two plays and 65 seconds, showing their ability to close out the game.

The Mountaineers were able to pull within one score twice but couldn't get any closer. Their efforts were commendable, but Memphis' offense and defense were just too strong on that day. In the end, Memphis won 11-2, sending West Virginia to its fourth losing season in the last six.