MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Running backs Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor both broke touchdown runs of more than 60 yards as Memphis churned out 319 rushing yards to take a 37-29 win against Louisiana-Monroe Thursday night in the pouring rain at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.



Henderson rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, while Taylor went for 131 yards and a TD on 15 attempts.That proved to be the difference on a day in which the Tigers were limited to 97 passing yards.

Taylor gave Memphis an early lead when he went 66 yards for a score on the Tigers' second possession of the game. Henderson had touchdown runs of 55 and 63 yards, the latter of which gave the Tigers a 37-14 cushion with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.

The offensive backs weren't the only ones with big plays for the Tigers. Tony Pollard, who was the American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year in 2016, added to his highlight reel with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half. It was the third kickoff return for a TD in the sophomore's brief career.

Memphis begins conference play next week with a visit to UCF.