Memphis Post-Game Notes

Oct 25, 2008 | Football

Oct. 25, 2008

* The captains for Memphis were seniors Brandon Pearce, Earnest Williams and Tommy Phelps.

* Junior Brett Toney started at quarterback today, marking the first start of his career. Toney has lettered the last two seasons as a holder for the special teams unit. He was called to action last weekend when Arkelon Hall (thumb) and Will Hudgens (knee) were both injured in the first quarter of the East Carolina game.

* Brett Toney threw his first career touchdown pass when he reached Carlos Singleton on a 14-yard fade pass into the corner of the endzone with 11:52 remaining in the first quarter. Toney and Bass rotated series most of the evening before Bass left due to injury, and Toney finished the game having completed 8 of 16 pass attempts for 125 yards.

* Kicker Matt Reagan was back in action for the first time in four games when he kicked the PAT following Memphis' first touchdown. Reagan had missed the UAB, Louisville and East Carolina games with a hip flexor. Vinny Zaccario was still utilized for kickoffs in tonight's meeting.

* Duke Calhoun extended his receiving streak to 33 games with his first reception in the first quarter from Tyler Bass. Calhoun holds the school record with the 33-game streak and entered today's game ranked 11th nationally. Calhoun finished the night with two receptions for 22 yards.

* True freshman Tyler Bass came in at quarterback on Memphis' second offensive series. He was in on a big play where he completed a pass to receiver Earnest Williams, who then pitched the ball to running back Curtis Steele who ran 59 yards to the USM 11. Officially on the game stats, Williams is credited with a catch for minus four yards, and Steele is credited with 0 receptions for 59 yards. On the next play, Bass rushed the endzone for his first career touchdown with 8:08 remaining in the first quarter.

* Tyler Bass tossed his first touchdown pass when he reached Carlos Singleton with a three-yard strike with 2:48 remaining in the second quarter. It was Singleton's second TD reception of the game; and the 18th of his career. This is the first game this season that Singleton has caught multiple TD passes, and the fourth career game he has done so.

* Matt Reagan had a string of 25 consecutive PATs made coming into tonight's game. He hit two early in the game before his third attempt bounced off the upright, snapping his streak at 27.

* Carlos Singleton led Memphis' receiving efforts with seven catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Singleton now ranks second all-time with 18 career touchdown receptions. He is one TD away from tying record holder Tavares Gideon who totaled 19 TD receptions in two seasons (2002 & 2004).

* For the sixth time this season, the Tigers have rushed for more than 150 yards with 285 yards on 51 carries. Many players helped power the rushing game as Memphis had eight different players with rushing attempts.

* Matt Reagan booted a 43-yard field goal with 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give Memphis the 23-17 advantage. It was Reagan's second make over 40 yards this season as he hit a career-high 44 yarder against Marshall.

* Tyler Bass left the game late in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury following a six-yard run. Bass finished the game having completed 9 of 10 pass attempts for 107 yards and one touchdown. He also had 10 rush attempts for 51 yards and one score.

* Curtis Steele logged his fourth career game with 100 yards rushing with 178 yards on 29 carries in tonight's contest. His 178 yards was the second-highest rushing total of his career. He scored his third touchdown this season off a 10-yard run with 10:42 remaining in the game after receiving the direct snap. He attempted a pass for the two-point conversion and was picked off for Memphis to lead, 29-24. He then logged his fourth touchdown of the season on a 22-yard run with 1:24 remaining in the 4th quarter. The multiple touchdown game was the first of his career.

* For the eighth time this season, Memphis logged over 400 yards of total offense with 516 yards on 79 plays versus Southern Miss. The only game this season that Memphis fell below 400 was last weekend at East Carolina (184). This is the second-highest total this season as Memphis tallied 523 yards versus Rice.

* Brandon Ross rushed for 10 yards and a first down for a third-down conversion after taking a snap at quarterback in the fourth quarter. He finished with two rushes for 11 yards.

* Josh Weaver intercepted a USM pass with 1:31 remaining in the game. It was his first interception of the season and the first of his career.