Memphis-Southern Miss Postgame Notes

Oct 17, 2009 | Football

Oct. 17, 2009

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MEMPHIS POSTGAME NOTES

Game Seven – vs. Southern Miss – October 17, 2009 – Hattiesburg, Miss.

TEAM GAME NOTES

·          Captains for Memphis today were seniors Arkelon Hall, Malcom Rawls, Jeremy Rockette.

·          The Tigers scored off a 48-yard field goal with 3:32 remaining in the first quarter to mark the second time this season that Memphis has scored first in a game.  The other was versus UT Martin.

·          Memphis led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter to mark the fourth time this season that Memphis has taken a lead into the second quarter.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

·          Senior receiver Duke Calhoun extended his receiving streak to 44 games with a 10-yard reception in Memphis’ first drive of the game.  Calhoun is ranked third nationally in active receiving streaks behind Central Michigan’s Bryan Anderson (47) and Buffalo’s Naaman Roosevelt (45).

·          DajLeon Farr logged a season-long 23-yard catch in the second quarter.  Farr finished the game with two catches for 32 yards, with the yardage being a season best.

·          T.J. Pitts had a long run of 21 yards in the second quarter, immediately following Farr’s 23-yard catch, for a season-long run for the senior. 

·          Steven Joachim hauled in a 33-yard pass from Will Hudgens late in the third quarter for a career-long reception for the senior.  Joachim has caught a pass in six of the seven games this season.

·          Curtis Steele logged his 100^th yard of the game on his season-long 36-yard carry in the fourth quarter.  It is Steele’s second straight game over the century mark this season, and the eighth of his career, which ranks third all-time at Memphis.  Steele finished the game with 136 yards on 24 carries.  He has now entered the Tiger Top 10 in rushing, boasting 1,740 yards in 18 games for the Tigers and is the only two-year player to be on the list.

·          Duke Calhoun scored in the fourth quarter off a 12-yard pass from Will Hudgens for his fifth receiving TD of the year; the 19^th of his career.  Calhoun has scored in the last five consecutive games.  The 19touchdowns puts Calhoun tied for second all-time with Tavares Gideon (2202, 2004).  Calhoun finished the day with 10 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. The 10 receptions ties a career high set against Ole Miss in 2007 and ties for fourth all-time in school history. The record is 13 receptions set by Maurice Avery against UAB in 2003.

·          Curtis Johnson had a career high in receptions and receiving yards with three catches for 22 yards.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

·          Dontari Poe was credited with a forced fumble in the first quarter, but USM recovered the ball.  Poe has forced a fumble in three of the last four games.

·          Greg Jackson intercepted Martevious Young on 4^th and 7 from the Memphis 30.  It was Jackson’s first interception of the season; the second of his career.  The Tigers converted a 48-yard field goal on the drive following the pick.

·          Greg Jackson forced Martevious Young to fumble on 2^nd-and-8 from the Memphis 12 early in the second quarter.  USM recovered the ball and ultimately was held to a 28-yard field goal.  It was Jackson’s third forced fumble of the year; the sixth of his career.

·          Marcus Ball had a career high with seven tackles and also had a pass breakup

·          Deante’ Lamar set a career high with a team leading eight tackles. It is his third-straight game with seven or more tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

·          Matt Reagan, who missed a 41-yard yard field goal early in the first quarter, booted a career-long 48-yard field goal to put Memphis on the board first, 3-0, with 3:32 remaining in the first quarter.  It was Reagan’s first 40-yard make of the season, and his previous career best was a 44-yard make versus Marshall last season.   Reagan’s last successful 40-yard field goal was a 43 yarder in 2008 versus Southern Miss.

·          Matt Reagan kicked a 19-yard field goal with 8:48 remaining in the second quarter to give Memphis a 6-3 advantage.  It Reagan’s first attempt and make from under 20 yards for his career.  This is the third game this season; and the 13th of his career, that he has hit multiple field goals in a single game.

·          Southern Miss scored a touchdown off a punt return in the third quarter to take a 17-6 lead.  It was the first time that a Memphis opponent had scored off a punt return since Arkansas State in 2007.

·          Frank Trotter was credited with a block of USM’s PAT attempt to open the fourth quarter.  It was the first time Memphis has blocked a PAT since doing so against UAB in 2007.

·          Matt Reagan converted a 28-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter to mark the eighth time in his career that he has hit three or more field goals in a single game.