University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Southern Miss
Tigers fall 36-16 at Southern Miss
Oct 17, 2009 | Football
Oct. 17, 2009
Final Stats |
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By Joshua R. Wilkins Graduate Assistant
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - For only the second time in the past six seasons, Memphis fell to Southern Miss by a 36-16 score. It was the Tigers' first loss at M.M. Roberts Stadium since 2003.
Just like the previous five meetings, the team with the fewest turnovers won the game, as Memphis turned it over twice to the Golden Eagles one.
Greg Jackson gave Memphis the ball with an early interception of USM quarterback Martevious Young, who was playing in place of injured first-stringer Austin Davis.
Twelve plays later, senior Matt Reagan put Memphis on the board with a 48-yard field goal, his career-best, making it 3-0. Reagan was 3-4 on field goal attempts in the contest.
With 13:26 left in the first half, USM would tie the game on a 28-yard field goal by Justin Estes.
Memphis retaliated with a drive to the USM three before having to settle for an 18-yard Reagan chip shot making the score 6-3 with 8:46 left in the half, the Tigers' final lead.
The U of M would trail for the first time in the game when Damion Fletcher, who paced the Golden Eagles with 67 rushing yards and two scores, punched the ball in the end zone from a yard out at the 3:22 mark. Estes' PAT made the score 10-6, where it would stay until halftime.
Golden Eagle Tracey Lampley extended the USM lead to 17-6 by returning a Reagan punt 50 yards for a touchdown with 9:58 left in the third.
Following Hudgens' interception to Eddie Hicks, Southern Miss would add another touchdown nine plays later on a one-yard run by Travis Harrison at 3:42 in the third quarter making the score 24-6.
Reagan pulled Memphis within 24-9 with a 27-yard field goal late in the third after several big pass completions by Hudgens moved the Tigers all the way to the USM eight.
Lampley hurt Memphis on special teams again by returning the ensuing kickoff to the Tiger 21-yard line. Several plays later, Fletcher ran through the middle of the Tiger defense for a 16-yard score.
An eight-play, 80-yard drive would result in Memphis' first touchdown when Hudgens hit Duke Calhoun with a 12-yard touchdown pass. Reagan's PAT made the score 30-16 with 13:20 to play.
Calhoun, the Tigers' all-time leader in career receptions and receiving yards, finished the contest with 10 catches for 76 yards. The 10 catches tied his career high, set against Ole Miss in 2007. Calhoun has a catch in 44 straight games, third nationally.
With 10 minutes left, the score jumped to 36-16 Young found DeAndre Brown for a 28-yard USM touchdown pass.
Memphis' last scoring opportunity fell short when Hudgens threw his second interception of the game, this time to Chico Hunter in the USM end zone.
Senior Curtis Steele had his second consecutive 100-yard rushing performance, rolling up 136 yards on 24 carries. Steele had 240 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers' win against UTEP the previous week.
Deante Lamar led the Tiger defense with eight tackles, his third straight game with seven or more tackles. Marcus Ball added seven tackles.
The loss drops Memphis to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in Conference USA. The Tigers now trail the Golden Eagles 38-21-1 in the two schools' all-time series, which has been played every year since 1982 except 1980.
The Tigers return to action Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time when they host East Carolina at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2, which is Channel 25 on local Comcast Cable.
