University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers Hold First Fall Scrimmage at the Liberty Bowl
Aug 16, 2007 | Football
Aug. 16, 2007
MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Tigers battled the scorching heat and worked through their first full-scale scrimmage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Thursday morning.
The offense scored on the very first series which saw quarterback Martin Hankins complete four straight passes made up of two completions each to Steven Black and Duke Calhoun. Black opened the drive with a seven-yard catch and followed Calhoun's two receptions for 12 yards with a 42-yard reception. Receiver Maurice Jones gained eight yards on a run to set up a one-yard touchdown run by T. J. Pitts. Joey Mack kicked the successful PAT after the score.
Will Hudgens piloted the next series and opened with a seven-yard completion to Jones. He threw two incomplete passes before connecting with Carlos Singleton on a 22-yard strike. Miguel Barnes gained four yards and Hudgens reached Earnest Williams with a 12-yard pass to end the drive.
Hankins and Hudgens both worked two more drives which were highlighted by Hankins' 19-yard pass to Jones and Hudgens' 53-yard touchdown pass to Henry Harris before coach Tommy West called for his offense to set up on their own two-yard line.
The Tigers worked 18 plays of coming out of difficult field position. On the very first play, Hankins tossed a 27-yard pass to Calhoun. The first two attempts at gaining field position were successful, but the third drive resulted in Pitts being dropped for a loss and a safety.
On play 45 of the 64-play scrimmage, redshirt freshman Matt Malouf was under center. Malouf handed off to Curtis Steele, who gained two yards, and then completed his first pass - a nine-yard toss -- to Cam Baker. Malouf also gained three yards on the series. Upon ending the drive, West called his team up and let them know they were working hard and that they would be ending the scrimmage after about 15 more plays. They then had a water break before starting up again.
Following the break, Joseph Doss had three straight carries in a drive with Hudgens under center. Doss gained one, nine and three yards on the series. Hudgens gained three yards and then finished the drive with a 16-yard pass to Calhoun. Mack again kicked the PAT.
Following the next three-play drive led by Malouf, Matt Reagan was called on for the 39-yard field goal and was successful.
The next drive that started from the six-yard line saw Jones gain four yards on a carry and Doss ended it with a two-yard touchdown. On the final series, again from the six, Steele loss six yards and Malouf made up for it with a six-yard TD scamper.
Defensive highlights included a blocked field goal by Clinton McDonald, an interception by true freshman Darius Davis, and a tackle for a loss of six yards by true freshman Tommy Walker. Michael Grandberry, Bernard Key, Alton Starr and Deante' Lamar were all credited with pass breakups. In addition, Brandon Patterson, Charlie Bryant, Clinton McDonald and Malcolm Jones all had TFLs in the workout.
Hankins finished the day having completed 12 of 17 passes for 161 yards and Hudgens ended with 140 yards and two touchdowns on 8 of 12 passes. He threw one pick on the 27th play of the scrimmage. Malouf had two pass completions for nine yards.
The receiving corps showed its depth with six Tigers catching multiple passes. Calhoun finished the day with six catches for 78 yards and a score, while Jones and Singleton each had three receptions for 36 and 38 yards, respectively. Williams logged four receptions for 31 yards and Dave Thomas hauled in three catches for 15 yards.
On the ground, Doss carried the ball six times and gained 19 yards with one score. Pitts rolled off 10 yards and a TD on four carries, while Barnes rushed seven times for five yards.
Overall, West appeared pleased with how his squad reacted to the heat and how they worked during the scrimmage.
"I am really pleased," said West. "What I asked them to do was to come down here and not be sloppy and not act like it's 100 degrees and to come out here and play and to do what they are coached to do."
West also gave a quick summary of each of the three areas.
"Offensively, I thought our execution was really good," West explained. "We didn't make all of our plays, but we will get better with making our plays. The attention to detail was good. Defensively, we had two busts, two missed assignments that hurt us bad. We have to get it corrected or get someone else in there. We did that a year ago, and we are not going to do that again. Our kicking game is way behind. We have a ton of work to do in the kicking game."
The squad will have two practices on Friday and is expected to return to the Liberty Bowl again on Saturday morning for another scrimmage.
