Memphis Falls to UCF on Road

Saturday, October 3

Orlando, Fla.

3:30 PM

University of Memphis

UCF

Duke Calhoun is congratulated by teammate Cam Baker after scoring on a 61-yard touchdown catch during the first half.

Oct 03, 2009 | Football

Oct. 3, 2009

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ORLANDO, Fla. - Despite holding a halftime lead, UCF ran to a 32-14 victory over the University of Memphis at Bright House Networks Stadium on Saturday.

After a brief 14-9 lead for the U of M (1-4, 0-2) in the second half, UCF (3-2, 1-2) scored 23 unanswered points for its first Conference USA win of the season.

Senior wide receiver Duke Calhoun led the Tigers with 162 yards and a touchdown on four receptions, marking his third-straight 100-yard game. The 162-yard effort ranks as the sixth highest total in Memphis history. It is his second 160+ yard game this season. Calhoun had a career best 174 yards against UT Martin.

Even with the return of senior running back Curtis Steele who had missed the previous two games with a bone bruise, Memphis struggled to get anything going on the ground, finishing with a combined 67 yards rushing. The Tigers were led in rushing by junior Lance Smith who had 35 yards on eight carries. Steele finished with eight rushes for 22 yards.

Brynn Harvey led UCF with a career high 219 yards rushing on 42 carries with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers took a 7-3 lead into halftime marking the second time this season the U of M has led at the half. Memphis had a 24-0 halftime lead against UT Martin in an eventual 41-14 victory.

Calhoun scored the first touchdown for Memphis in the second quarter on a 61-yard pass from sophomore QB Tyler Bass. It marked the third-straight game the duo has connected on a TD of 60 yards or more. The pair completed an 85-yard passing play against UT Martin and also scored on an 80-yard play against Marshall.

The touchdown moved Calhoun into a tie for third for most touchdown receptions in Memphis history at 17. Calhoun is tied with Earnest Gray and is two TDs from second place. Senior Carlos Singleton is the school's all-time leader in the category with 21 career touchdowns.

Memphis had a chance to head into the locker room with a seven-point lead at the half, but a 30-yard field goal attempt by senior Matt Reagan sailed wide right as time expired. Reagan also missed a 42-yard attempt in the third quarter.

UCF was threatening to score late in the second half and were deep in Memphis territory when senior defensive lineman Jada Brown made his first career interception on a pass by the Knights' Brett Hodges. Brown intercepted the ball on the Memphis 25 and returned it 62 yards before being brought down on the UCF 13-yard line.

The Knights put the first points on the board with a 24-yard field goal by Nick Cattoi with 13:21 left in the second quarter. It was the first of four field goals for Cattoi who also had successful kicks of 46, 42 and 26 yards to tie a UCF record for most field goals in a game.

Redshirt-senior Will Hudgens came into the game on the last Memphis drive of the third quarter and led the Tigers 65-yards on five plays for a touchdown, putting Memphis temporarily up, 14-9. Senior tight end DajLeon Farr made his first touchdown reception in a Memphis uniform on a 12-yard pass from Hudgens.

Hudgens played the remainder of the game and led the team with 143 yards passing and completed 6-of-15 attempts with one interception. Bass started the game for Memphis and completed 10-of-15 attempts for 115 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Hodges finished 16-of-28 for 214 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Senior Greg Jackson led the team in tackles and tied a career high with 13, including 11 solo stops.

Memphis returns home to face UTEP on Saturday, October 10, at 7 p.m. at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in a game that has been designated as Homecoming.