Brawl mars ending of Memphis’ OT victory in Miami Beach Bowl
Paxton Lynch accounted for seven touchdowns including a scoring pass to Roderick Proctor in the second overtime, Jake Elliott made a 54-yard field goal to force that extra session and Memphis topped BYU 55-48 in the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl on Monday.
Lynch threw for four scores and ran for three more for Memphis (10-3), in a game marred by a postgame brawl that involved many players from both teams after BYU’s Christian Stewart was intercepted by the Tigers’ DaShaughn Terry on the final play.
The game was back-and-forth, and that continued – in ugly fashion – after it ended. Players from both teams spilled onto the field, punches being thrown by both sides as coaches from both teams tried to break up the mess before it got any worse.
“That’s not who we are,” Memphis coach Justin Fuente said.
There was no immediate word on any disciplinary action.
It was Memphis’ first bowl triumph since 2005 and its first 10-win season since 1938.
Keiwone Malone caught two touchdown passes for the Tigers, including one with 45 seconds left in regulation.
Stewart threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns for BYU (8-5).
Paul Lasike ran for two scores and Zac Stout ran back an interception for another touchdown for BYU, which twice rallied from 10-point deficits.
Today’s games
Boca Raton Bowl
Matchup: Marshall (12-1)
vs. Northern Illinois (11-2)
Time/TV: 3 p.m./ESPN
Rating: Three stars (out of five)
Overview: The Thundering Herd was perhaps headed to a major bowl until its regular-season finale loss to Western Kentucky. Quarterback Rakeem Cato has thrown a TD pass in an NCAA-record 45 straight games.
Poinsettia Bowl
Matchup: Navy (7-5)
at San Diego State (7-5)
Time/TV: 6:30 p.m./ESPN
Rating: One star
Overview: Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds missed two games but still rushed for 1,082 yards and 20 touchdowns (most among FBS quarterbacks). The Aztecs, on their home field, boast the nation’s third-leading rusher in Donnel Pumhrey with 1,761 yards.
Capsules provided by Kansas City Star