Showboats Slow Down Michigan Offense to Pick Up First Victory of the Season

Memphis Showboats fan can relax now. The team’s 0-3 start and losing streak are now things of the past.

Saturday afternoon may possibly have represented a shift in Memphis’s season. They picked up their first victory of the season by defeating the Michigan Panthers 29-10 yesterday at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Showboats were led by 6’7 signal caller Cole Kelley, who shined in his second consecutive start with Memphis. He accrued 151 passing yards and rushed for 27 yards and two scores.

Memphis dominated all facets of the game, limiting a formidable Panthers offense to just 125 yards through the air and allowing only ten points.

Here were three factors that played a significant role in the Showboats gaining their first victory of the season.

Forcing turnovers- The Showboats showcased their potential on the defensive end of the ball, which represented and served as a concerning weak point of the squad. Memphis forced only one turnover in their first three games this season. They forced four on Saturday evening, making life miserable for Panthers quarterbacks Josh Love and Carson Strong.

Cornerback Jermaine Kelly snagged his first interception of the season right before halftime. This allowed the Showboats to enter the halftime break up 13-3. They continued the turnover party in the second half, with the final one resulting in a Panthers fumble on a 4th quarter kickoff return.

Consistent quarterback play–Cole Kelley gives the Showboats the best chance of winning games. Local gridiron legend Brady White proved incapable of getting the job done, as the team lost their first two starts with him as the signal-caller. Kelley’s presence in the lineup has settled the Showboats, as he produced a 300-yard passing effort last week in a close loss to Houston. Despite not putting those gaudy numbers yesterday, his ability to extend plays with his legs caused a lot of issues for the Michigan defense.

Causing turnovers, not the other way around- This could be associated with the improved defensive unit, but Kelley and company also deserve credit for this as well. Forcing four turnovers while surrendering zero constitutes a pretty successful outing for a football team.

Memphis didn’t do a great job of capitalizing on opportunities in their first couple of games, in part because they weren’t doing a great job of forcing turnovers themselves. If this continues, Memphis will definitely be in a good position to continue picking up victories as the season commences.