Memphis vs. UTEP Postgame Notes

Sep 25, 2010 | Football

Sept. 25, 2010

MEMPHIS POSTGAME NOTES

Game Four - at UTEP - September 25, 2010 - El Paso, Texas

TEAM GAME NOTES

 Captains for Memphis today were offensive lineman Ronald Leary, tight end Brooks Johnson, defensive back D.A. Griffin.

 True freshman Taurean Nixon (Baton Rouge, LA) saw his first game action today and started at corner for the Tigers. Nixon is the 10th true freshman to play this season. Also making his first career start today was running back Jerrell Rhodes.

 Of the 10 true freshmen to see action this season, five have made it into the starting lineup. The five true freshmen to start are: Ryan Williams (QB), Todd Washington (CB), Corey Jones (DL), Jerrell Rhodes (RB) and Taurean Nixon (DB). In addition, three redshirt-freshmen have started this season, including Ricky Hart (OL), Mohammed Seisay (CB) and Brooks Johnson (TE). Hart started today for Dominik Riley, who suffered a knee injury last weekend versus Middle Tennessee.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

 True freshman Ryan Williams made his second consecutive start today at quarterback. Coming into today's game, Williams was one of five true freshmen nationally to start at quarterback. Williams completed his first six pass attempts before throwing an interception late in the first quarter. It was his first pick since the Mississippi State when he came in as a reserve.

 Jermaine McKenzie hauled in a 15-yard pass from Ryan Williams deep in the endzone with just over three minutes remaining in the second quarter for his fifth touchdown pass of the season and McKenzie's second TD catch. McKenzie scored his first touchdown last week against Middle Tennessee.

 Senior tight end Deven Onarheim caught a 20-yard pass from Ryan Williams early in the third quarter for his second career reception of 20-plus yards. His career high is a 23-yard reception against UCF in 2009.

 Ryan Williams threw for 144 yards and completed 20 of 30 pass attempts with one touchdown.

 True freshman running back Jerrell Rhodes registered a career high today with 90 yards on 23 carries. His previous high was 59 yards on 17 carries versus East Carolina.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

 Redshirt-freshman Mohammed Seisay intercepted Trevor Vittatoe at the UTEP 20 with 5:01 remaining in the second quarter. This is the second straight game that Seisay has recorded an interception. The Tigers scored on their ensuing drive on a touchdown pass from Ryan Williams to Jermaine McKenzie. This was the fifth-straight time that Memphis had scored off of a turnover as the Tigers forced four against MTSU last weekend and scored off all four miscues.

 The Tiger defense logged three sacks today, marking the first time since the Marshall game last season (9/26/09) that Memphis was credited with three or more sacks. The defenders credited with sacks today were Dontari Poe, Terrence Thomas and Dasmine Cathey.

 Safety Tremaine McKenzie logged two pass breakups today for his career game of multiple breakups.

 Cornerback Mohammed Seisay had a career high three passes defended with an interception and two pass breakups.

 Senior linebacker Jamon Hughes led the team in tackles for the fourth-straight game this season and the eighth straight time dating back to last season. He had 11 stops in the game.

 Memphis held UTEP to under 300 yards total offense for the first time this season. The Miners had 288 total yards after coming into the game averaging 466.0 yards per game.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

 Paulo Henriques converted a 37-yard field goal with 5:16 remaining on the clock to put the first points up on the board for the Tigers. It was Henriques' fourth-consecutive field goal made and also marked the third-straight game he scored first for the Tigers. He later added his fifth-consecutive made field goal on a 35-yard attempt with 8:35 left in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers up 13-10.

 True freshman Tom Hornsey booted two 50-yard punts today to give him nine for the year. He has logged multiple 50 yarders in three of four games.

 Delmon Robinson returned kicks for the first time this season and his first return was for 33 yards. That return is the longest kick return for a Tiger this season. The previous high was 32 yards by Billy Foster against Mississippi State. Robinson finished the game with 51 yards on two returns.