Post-Game Notes, Memphis , UTEP

Nov 25, 2006 | Football

Nov. 25, 2006

Recap |  Final Stats

MEMPHIS FOOTBALL NOTES
November 25, 2006 vs. UTEP

 The win tonight snaps the nine-game losing streak and Memphis ends the regular season with a win for the third straight season. Memphis is now 2-0 all-time over UTEP with its other win being in Memphis last year.

 The Tiger defense held UTEP to five yards rushing for the lowest rushing total by an opponent since 1993. It was also the fourth time in the last six games that Memphis had limited its opponent to less than 150 yards on the ground.

 The four takeaways for Memphis in the game are a season high. The Tigers have forced three turnovers or more three times this season. Memphis had two fumbles recovered and two interceptions.

 Clinton McDonald recorded his first blocked field goal when he blocked Reagan Schneider's 26-yard attempt with seven seconds remaining in the first half. A week earlier, Brandon McDonald blocked a Houston field goal attempt and the ball was picked up by Greg Jackson and returned for a TD that sent the game into overtime.

 Ryan Scott caught three passes for 34 yards tonight and ends his career ranked fourth all-time in receptions with 114 and seventh in yards with 1,527.

 Joseph Doss entered the U of M top 10 in single season rushing yards. With his 82 yards on 28 carries tonight, Doss now ranks seventh with 910 yards.

 True freshman Duke Calhoun registered a career-high 129 yards receiving on five catches. It was his third 100-yard receiving performance this season (100 UCF, 109 Chattanooga). Calhoun had a long reception of 56 yards tonight for his second-longest catch of the season. His high this year is a 60-yard grab versus Chattanooga.

 Joseph Doss recorded his fifth rushing touchdown of the season off a two-yard run in the second quarter, and later logged his sixth on another two-yard run in the fourth quarter and his seventh on an eight-yard rush in the same quarter. The three rushing touchdowns are the most since DeAngelo Williams rushed for three scores against Akron in 2005. Doss now ranks second on the team in scoring with 54 points. He also has two receiving TDs to his credit this year.

 Seniors Wesley Smith, Brandon McDonald and Mario Pratcher were voted as the team captains prior to the game by their teammates. They are recognized as the captains for the 2006 season.

 Senior Derek Clenin was back on the field for the first time since severely spraining his ankle against UAB. Clenin was originally thought to had broken his ankle, but later tests revealed a severe sprain. Clenin, ahead of schedule on his rehabilitation by about three weeks, practiced with the team for the first time on Tuesday. Today he worked with the special teams unit on kick coverage.

 Michael Grandberry logged his second return over 50 yards when he returned a kickoff 58 yards in the first quarter. Grandberry had a career-long 61-yard return against UCF two weeks ago. He rolled off a 60-yard return in the fourth quarter. Grandberry finished the day with two returns for 118 yards for his second 100-yard kickoff return game.

 Brandon McDonald registered his third interception of the season; sixth of his career, when he picked off WR Lorne Sam at the Memphis 26-yard line. The play was a lateral from QB Jordan Palmer to Lorne and Lorne attempted the long pass. The interception ultimately led to a Tiger touchdown.

 Wesley Smith jolted Jamar Hunt and forced him to cough up the ball on the UTEP 35-yard line. Heath Grant recovered the fumble. It was the second fumble recovery and forced fumble for both. The turnover led to a 42-yard field goal by Matt Reagan.

 Matt Reagan has continued to improve and booted a career-long 42 yard field goal to give Memphis the 10-3 advantage in the second quarter. Reagan has registered a new career best each of the last three weeks as he booted a 40 yarder against UCF, a 41 yarder versus Houston and today's 42 yarder. Reagan is now 12 of 17 on the year and 3 of 6 from 40-plus yards.

 Two receivers and one back have each caught passes in all 12 games this season. TB Joseph Doss and receivers Ryan Scott and Duke Calhoun all extended their streaks with at least one catch in tonight's game. Scott ends his career on a 13-game streak which dates back to the 2005 Motor City Bowl.

 Linebacker Jake Kasser registered his fourth sack of the season when he dropped Jordan Palmer for a loss of seven yards. Kasser is now second on the team in sacks, behind Greg Terrell (7).

 Carlos Singleton caught one pass for 18 yards to extend his receiving streak to eight games.

 Clinton McDonald was credited with his first career sack when he dropped Jordan Palmer for a loss of seven yards in the third quarter.

 Earnest Williams rushed one yard for his first rushing touchdown of the season; the third of his career, to push Memphis to 17-6 with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter. It was Williams' fourth TD of the year as the receiver also totals three TD catches.

 Redshirt freshman T.J. Pitts scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard rushing attempt in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was the fifth rushing TD for Memphis in the game. The last time the Tigers had five rushing touchdowns in a game came against Chattanooga in 2005. Pitts finished with a career high 40 yards rushing on four attempts.