Memphis Football: 3 game balls from Tigers upset of Mississippi State

2. Memphis punter/placekicker Joe Doyle deserves the game ball

The junior transfer from the Tennessee Volunteers came to the Memphis football program expecting to serve as the team’s punter. Instead, Joe Doyle was asked to be the team’s punter and placekicker after the favorite for the job was sidelined with an injury for an undisclosed amount of time.

Doyle served in his primary role as a punter to perfection. He punted the ball five times, including a 65 yard punt in the fourth quarter that put Mississippi State inside their own 15. Four of his five punts were placed inside the Bulldog’s own 20-yard line. He did not attempt a field for the first 57 minutes of the game.

Then, with 2:02 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Tigers up 5 points, Silverfield called upon his punter and acting placekicker to put this game out of reach.

Doyle took a few deep breaths, went through his pre-snap motions, signaled for the snap and nailed the 51-yard field goal to put the Memphis Tigers up 8 points.

Mississippi State marched down the field for a quick strike, making it 29-31.

Without the made field goal by Doyle, the Tigers likely would have lost this game 29-28. Huge kudos to the Memphis Tigers and Coach Silverfield for believing in Doyle.