Post-Game Notes
Nov 13, 2005 | Football
Nov. 13, 2005
Recap | Final Stats
MEMPHIS FOOTBALL NOTES November 12, 2005 vs. Tennessee
• Junior linebacker Michael Spurlock had his first career start today as he replaced Heath Grant who was suspended for what Coach Tommy West classified as classroom behavior on Wednesday.
• Senior tailback DeAngelo Williams did not play today. He injured his left ankle last weekend against UAB and was limited in practice. It was the first game Williams had not started since he missed the 2003 New Orleans Bowl with a knee injury.
• Senior kicker Stephen Gostkowski put the first points on the board booting his 12th field goal of the season, and his 60th of his career with the 43-yard field goal in the first quarter. Gostkowski hit a 37-yarder just over two minutes later, and also hit a 35-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Memphis the narrow 16-14 lead.
• With his three field goals made today, Stephen Gostkowski now totals 62 career FGs made and ties for third all-time in Conference USA with Cincinnati's Jonathan Ruffin who kicked 62 FGs from 1998-2002. The league record is 66 by Tulane's Seth Marler (1999-02).
• Junior DB Brandon McDonald recorded his second career interception in the first quarter that led to Gostkowski's 37-yard field goal. The 37-yard interception return was the longest return for a Tiger player this year, and the longest since Dustin Lopez returned a pass 37 yards against Tulane last year. McDonald also recorded a pick against Ole Miss in the season opener.
• Senior receiver Ryan Scott caught four passes for 59 yards today to keep his streak alive. He has now caught at least one pass in 15 consecutive games.
• Freshman receiver Maurice Jones caught a 17 yard pass in the second quarter and has now caught a pass in every game but the season opener against Ole Miss.
• Senior quarterback Maurice Avery rushed four yards to score in the second quarter for his fourth rushing TD this season. He has thrown four TDs this year and also caught two TD passes before being pressed into action as the QB.
• With his 10 points today, kicker Stephen Gostkowski holds the C-USA record in points scored with 337. He entered the game ranked second behind Tulane's Seth Marler who previously held the record with 333 points. Gostkowski's points were obtained on 62 FGs and 151 PATs made.
• Punter Michael Gibson had a season and career-long 55 yard punt today. He averaged 45.8 yards on six punts. His long this season for a game of at least five punts is 46.8 versus Houston.
• Memphis as a team rushed for 165 yards on 38 carries, which is the second most yards allowed by the Tennessee defense this season. Georgia rolled off 198 yards on the Vols in the fifth game of the season.
• Sophomore Joseph Doss rushed for 77 yards, which is his second highest total this season. His season and career high was the 85 yards he picked up on 12 carries against Chattanooga.
• The 215 yards passing for the Vols is the lowest passing yardage for a Memphis opponent since Chattanooga passed for just 105 yards in the second game of the season. Four opponents this season have passed for fewer than 250 yards.
• This is the fifth time in the seven meetings since 1992 that the game has been decided by five or fewer points.
