University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
East Carolina
Memphis Falls to ECU, 38-19
Oct 28, 2009 | Football
Oct. 27, 2009
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
By Joshua R. Wilkins
Graduate Assistant
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Four turnovers were enough to hand Memphis its fourth consecutive loss to East Carolina 38-19 Tuesday night at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
East Carolina scored first, capping off the game's first drive, a 63-yarder, with a three-yard run by quarterback Patrick Pinkney on fourth down. Ben Hartman's PAT made the score 7-0.
Memphis responded with a 45-yard drive that resulted in Matt Reagan's field goal from 26 yards making the score 7-3.
After holding ECU to a three-and-out, Chris Hobbs fumbled the ensuing Pirate punt, and ECU recovered at the Memphis ten. Two plays later Dwayne Harris took a direct snap eight yards into the Tiger end zone.
Memphis drove into ECU territory again before a botched lateral gave the Pirates the ball back at the 30-yard line. The Pirates responded going 70 yards in seven plays, and Pinkney took a keeper left 23 yards for his second score. Hartman's third PAT gave the Pirates a 21-3 lead with 12:02 remaining in the half.
Memphis found the end zone for the first time with 43 seconds remaining in the half. After an 11-play 75-yard drive in which quarterback Will Hudgens completed passes to six different receivers, Hudgens found Carlos Singleton to his left for a 14-yard touchdown. The score at the break would stay 21-10.
In the first half, Hudgens was 19-26 passing for 155 yards and a touchdown. He'd finish up with 313 passing yards on 33-48 passing. It was Hudgens' career-high in completions (tied for fourth all-time at Memphis), and the second 300-yard passing game of his career.
The touchdown catch was Singleton's 22nd of his career, a standing Memphis record. It was his first touchdown since catching two touchdowns in a win against UT Martin earlier this season. His nine total catches in the game were also a season-high.
After junior Bryan Wright ended ECU's first second-half drive with his first interception of the season, Reagan would hit his second field goal of the game from 45 yards out making the score 21-13 almost seven minutes into the third. The field goal was Reagan's 10th of his career and 45th of his Tiger career.
That momentum wouldn't last as the Pirates responded with their own 75-yard drive punctuated by Giavanni Rushin's 19-yard touchdown run with 4:30 left in the third.
Four minutes later, after Hudgens' interception to Van Eskridge gave the Pirates the ball back, Pinkney threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Darryl Harris making the score 35-13. It would stay through the end of the third quarter, a quarter in which the Pirates out-gained the Tigers 200-57 in total yardage in the third quarter.
Hudgens threw his second touchdown of the night with 12:42 remaining, a 43-yard strike to Marcus Rucker who weaved his way through several Pirates en route to the end zone making the score 35-19.
ECU extended their lead to the three-possession variety with Hartman's 48-yard field goal at 9:59 in the fourth. The three-pointer would make the final score 38-19.
Winston Bowens led the Tiger defense with 10 total tackles, while Marcus Ball had 10, and D.A. Griffin added nine.
The loss drops Memphis to 2-6 on the season, 1-4 in Conference USA play.
The Tigers return to action on Saturday, Nov. 7 when they head to Knoxville to face the University of Tennessee at Neyland Stadium, Shield-Watkins Field. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
