Memphis Post-Game Notes

Sep 06, 2009 | Football

Sept. 6, 2009

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MEMPHIS POSTGAME NOTES
Game One - vs. Ole Miss - September 6, 2009 - Memphis, Tenn.

MISCELLANEOUS TEAM NOTES
 Transfer safety Marcus Ball did not play today, and will have to sit out the first three games due to an academic issue stemming from his previous time at Florida State (`06/'07).
 Captains for Memphis were seniors Greg Jackson, Duke Calhoun, Greg Terrell, Carlos Singleton.
 Junior Charlie Bryant started on the defensive line today for his first career start. Other players to get their first starts on offense and defense today were offensive linemen Ronald Leary, Brad Paul, Joel McCleod and Tommy Walker, receiver Brian Hall and defensive back Akeem Davis.
 True freshman defensive lineman Dontari Poe played on the defensive line, coming into the game in the first quarter. Other true freshmen to play today were kicker Paulo Henriques, DB Derek Smith (special teams) and WR Marcus Hightower (special teams).

TEAM RECORD AND SERIES NOTES
 Today's game is the 59th meeting between Memphis and Ole Miss. The Rebels now lead the series 47-10-2. It is also the 13th time in school history that Memphis has played Ole Miss when they are nationally ranked.
 Memphis is now 43-45-5 in home openers.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
 Senior Duke Calhoun caught a 13-yard pass with just over 5 minutes remaining in the first quarter to extend his receiving streak to 38 games. He came into today's game ranked third nationally in active receiving streaks. Calhoun has caught a pass in each of his 38 career games played for the Tigers.
 Senior RB Curtis Steele took the direct snap and rushed two yards into the endzone with 13:37 remaining in the second quarter to record his eighth career rushing TD.
 Arkelon Hall was picked off two times for only his second career game of multiple interceptions. He also threw two picks against Rice last year.
 Duke Calhoun logged five receptions today to set a new school record in career receptions with 149. He surpassed Damien Dodson, who totaled 147 receptions from 1996-99. With his 53 yards today, Calhoun ranks second all-time in career yards with 2,111 behind Earnest Gray's 2,123 career yards.
 Curtis Steele scored on a five-yard run with 9:09 remaining in the game for his second score today. This is the second time in his career that he had scored two TDs from the run. He also had two touchdowns against Southern Miss last season. Steele finished the day with 90 yards on 19 carries. He had the longest run of the day, 28 yards, which occurred on the same drive that he scored on in the fourth quarter.
 Will Hudgens entered the game at quarterback with a little more than five minutes left in the game. Hudgens started the final two Memphis drives and completed two of six passes for 24 yards.
 Junior transfer Lance Smith finished with 132 all-purpose yards. Smith totaled 63 yards rushing, seven yards receiving and 62 yards on four kick returns.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
 Senior wide receiver Duke Calhoun forced his first career fumble in the first quarter after an interception off Arkelon Hall by Johnny Brown. Brown returned the ball 30 yards to the Memphis 10 before having it knocked out by Calhoun and recovered by senior wide receiver Carlos Singleton at the Memphis three yard line.
 Senior Deante' Lamar picked off Jevan Snead at the 50-yard line at the start of the second quarter for his second career interception. He also had a pick in the Louisville game last season. Lamar made a 25-yard return on the play to set Memphis up on the Ole Miss 25. The Tigers scored three plays later to cut the deficit to three points with 13:31 remaining in the second quarter.
 Junior Darius Davis picked off Jevan Snead at the Memphis 41-yard line in the second quarter for his first career interception. Memphis punted on their ensuing drive.
 Senior defensive lineman Jada Brown dropped Jevan Snead for a loss of three yards on 3rd-and-9 on the Memphis 33 with 4:24 remaining in the third quarter for his fifth career sack. Ole Miss was forced to punt on the next play.
 Greg Jackson sacked Ole Miss QB Nathan Stanley in the final minute of the game for a loss of 12 yards. Jackson now has 6.5 sacks in his career. The senior linebacker finished with 2.5 tackles for a loss of 16 yards.
 In his first game in a Memphis uniform, sophomore transfer Akeem Davis led the team with eight tackles. The defensive back made a team best seven solo stops.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
 True freshman Paulo Henriques handled kickoffs today and averaged 63.3 yards on three kicks with one touchback. Memphis only had one touchback the entire 2008 season.
 Senior Matt Reagan handled the punting duties for the first time in his career. He booted seven punts and averaged 44.1 yards. He dropped three kicks inside the 20 and had a long punt of 57 yards. Reagan also kicked field goals today and missed a 49-yard attempt in the first quarter. Reagan's career high is 44 yards, which he logged last year against Marshall.