University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Arkansas St
Tigers Trample Arkansas State, 38-16
Sep 27, 2003 | Football
Sept 27, 2003
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Memphis took its time getting untracked, but kept its poise in the meantime and eventually got out of its own way.
Arkansas State scored on its first two possessions and led 10-3 at halftime before the Tigers rallied for a 38-16 victory Saturday.
"We looked like we had an open date and forgot we were playing this week," Memphis coach Tommy West said. "We played bad in the first half. It wasn't just one. It was everybody. ... I thought we were fortunate be within seven."
Danny Wimprine threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third to lead the Tiger comeback. Wimprine completed 20 of 35 passes for 238 yards as Memphis (3-1) got off to its best start in three years. DeAngelo Williams, who leads the nation in all-purpose yards, rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers.
Memphis has won the last nine games in the series.
"The second half seemed like it went forever," Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts said. "The first half just flew by, and the second half just crept along."
Arkansas State (2-3) scored on its first two possessions, but could put little together offensively in the second half. The Indians were held to 37 yards rushing and 79 yards passing in the final two periods.
"We went in at halftime, and I knew we were going to come back in the second half and win by at least 21," Wimprine said. "Once we started getting some first downs and the defense started playing really well like they did in the second half, the game was going to turn around."
Arkansas State dominated early and had scored twice before Memphis had managed even a first down.
Shermar Bracey's 1-yard run capped an opening 8-play, 60-yard drive for the Indians.
After a short Memphis punt, Arkansas State drove from the Tigers 49 to the 9 before Eric Neihouse kicked a 26-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
Memphis had only a 28-yard field goal from Stephen Gostkowski in the first half.
Memphis used a mixture of Wimprine passing and the rushing of Williams to build its lead in the second half, scoring on five of its first six possessions. A pair of third-quarter touchdowns by Darron White - a 15-yard pass from Wimprine and a 3-yard run - put Memphis up 17-10.
Arkansas State's only second-half score came in the third on a 1-yard run by Antonio Warren, but the point-after failed and Memphis kept the lead.
The Tigers put together a 21-point fourth quarter to pull away.
Wimprine's 4-yard scoring run and Williams' 18-yarder built the lead to 31-16, and Wimprine's second touchdown pass of the day, for 2 yards to Maurice Avery, closed out scoring.
