University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Arkansas State
Memphis Edged By Arkansas State
Oct 14, 2006 | Football
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Oct. 14, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A 53-yard pass from Arkansas State quarterback Corey Leonard to Patrick Higgins with seconds left to play Saturday gave the Indians a 26-23 victory over Memphis.
Leonard took the snap with six seconds left, rolled left and heaved the ball into a crowd in the end zone. Higgins came out with the ball, sending the Indian squad onto the field in celebration.
Officials reviewed the play and confirmed the touchdown reception, snapping Arkansas State's 10-game losing streak in the series. The Indians had not defeated Memphis since 1989.
It was Higgins second touchdown reception, his only two catches of the game.
It was a fitting end for the Indians (4-2), who dominated most of the game, but found themselves trailing on a bit of Memphis razzle-dazzle earlier in the fourth.
A 37-yard pass from Memphis wide receiver Ryan Scott to running back Joseph Doss with under 7 minutes left gave the Tigers (1-5) a 23-20 lead.
On the play, quarterback Martin Hankins threw left to Scott on a lateral. Doss snuck out of the backfield down the right side, and Scott hit him at about the 15. One move inside shook the last defender, and the Tigers took the lead for the first time since the opening possession.
Arkansas State's ensuing drive was stopped when Tiger linebacker Heath Grant intercepted quarterback Corey Leonard's pass at the Memphis 15.
The Indians moved the ball to midfield with time running out, leading to the Leonard-Higgins winning combination.
Memphis struggled on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Martin Hankins overthrew receivers, completing 12-of-27 passes. Meanwhile, the Tigers rushing game managed a mere 127 yards.
Curtis Wilkerson ended up with 116 yards rushing for Arkansas State on 23 carries.
In the first half, Arkansas State had 262 yards of offense, including 168 yards on the ground, converted its first five third-down situations and scored on three of its four possessions in the half. The only time they didn't score was when Memphis recovered an Indian fumble near midfield in the second quarter.
Memphis at the break trailed 17-6.
The team scored on its first possession as Matt Reagan kicked a 28-yard field goal capping a 12-play, 53-yard drive. Reagan would add a 27-yard kick later in the first quarter and another 28-yarder in the second half.
But there was little else to brag about for the Tiger offense, which had 49 yards on the ground and 91 through the air in the half.
The first Indians score came from Brandon Thompkins' 16-yard end around run. Later, Arkansas State scored on a 26-yard pass from Leonard to Higgins, one of the third-down conversions in the first half.
The Indians would convert only two other third-down plays, one of them being the winning touchdown.
