Memphis Postgame Notes

Oct 16, 2010 | Football

Oct. 16, 2010

Recap |  Final Stats |  Quotes |  Photo Gallery 

Game Seven - vs. Southern Miss - October 16, 2010 - Memphis, Tenn.

TEAM GAME NOTES
 Captains for today's game were linebacker Winston Bowens, wide receiver Tannar Rehrer and defensive back D.A. Griffin.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
 Ryan Williams completed a 45-yard pass to Curtis Johnson on the first drive that was the longest passing play this season until a fourth quarter 81-yard touchdown reception to Marcus Rucker. The previous long coming into the game was 37 yards from Williams to Marcus Rucker against Tulsa. The 45-yard reception is a career best for Johnson.

 Marcus Rucker hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Williams with 10:44 remaining in the first quarter for his third TD catch of the season. Rucker and Williams hooked up again in the fourth quarter for an 81-yard touchdown reception, which is the 12th longest touchdown reception in school history and offensive play this season. This is also the first time that Rucker has scored twice in the same game. The two TDs give Rucker four on the season; six for his career.

 Freshman Ryan Williams has now thrown seven TD passes in his first season with the Tigers. It is the second time this season he has thrown multiple touchdowns. Williams completed 11-of-21 attempts for 237 yards and two touchdowns. It is the second time this season he has thrown over 200 yards in a game with the other coming against East Carolina (293).

 True freshman Chris Schuetz saw his first game action today when he came in at center in the second quarter. Memphis has played 11 true freshmen this season. Of the 11 true freshmen to see action, eight have started at least one game this season.

 Tyler Bass came in at quarterback on Memphis' first drive of the second quarter on 4th-and-1 from the 50. Memphis was whistled for a false start and had to punt following the penalty. Bass later came in with just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter.

 Cannon Smith made his first appearance today in the second quarter. He came in on Memphis' second drive of the second quarter. Memphis committed two penalties on the drive and was forced to punt.

 Three Tiger receivers extended their receiving streaks to seven games with receptions in today's game. Marcus Rucker (4-155-2), Curtis Johnson (1-45-0) and Tannar Rehrer (2-13-0) have caught a pass in each of the seven games this season. Jermaine McKenzie also had a streak of six games with a reception coming into today's game, but McKenzie missed the game with an injury.

 Marcus Rucker's 155 yards receiving mark his first ever game over 100 yards. He is also the first Tiger receiver to log 100-plus yards this season. The last Tiger to tally 100 yards receiving was Carlos Singleton versus UTEP in 2009. Singleton is also the last Tiger receiver to post multiple receiving TDs, doing so against UT-Martin last year.

 Rucker's 155 yards receiving is tied for 11th in school history for most receiving yards in a game. He is the first player to eclipse the 150-yard mark since Duke Calhoun had 162 yards against UCF last season.

 Marcus Rucker averaged 38.75 yards on his four receptions, which ranks as the third highest single game average gain per reception in school history. Duke Calhoun's 40.5 yard average on four catches against UCF last reason ranks first.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
 Junior Lavaris Edwards made his first career start in the secondary at corner today. Edwards had played three games this season in a reserve role before today's game.

 Sophomore linebacker Khiry Battle was back in action today. Battle has missed the last three games with an injury he suffered against Middle Tennessee. Defensive back Akeem Davis was also back out on the field for the first time since the East Carolina game in which he was injured in.

 Senior linebacker Jamon Hughes led the team for the seventh time this season in tackles, posting a career best 21 stops. It is the fourth game this year that he has recorded double-digit tackles. Hughes has now led the Tigers in tackles in 11 straight games dating back to last season.

 The 21 total tackles by Jamon Hughes ranks tied for second in school history. The last Memphis player to record 21 tackles or more was Pete Scatamacchia who had a school record 25 in 1979 against Louisville. Hughes is the first player to eclipse the 20 tackle mark since Kamal Shakir's 20 in 1999 against Army.

 The game marked the second time this season Memphis has recorded 10 or more tackles for loss. The Tigers had 10 tackles for loss against Southern Miss with Frank Trotter, Terrence Thomas and Dontari Poe all recording two TFLs. Memphis had 11 tackles for loss against Middle Tennessee earlier this year.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
 Senior D.A. Griffin opened the game with a 32-yard kickoff return, marking the fourth 30-yard KO return for the Tigers this season. Griffin, who had returned both punts and kickoffs in 2008 and 2009, was back returning kicks for the first time this season last weekend against Louisville. Griffin logged 128 yards on five returns for his second career game over the century mark. His other was a 107-yard effort on six returns against USF in the 2008 St. Petersburg Bowl.

 Paulo Henriques converted a 45-yard field goal with 2:02 remaining in the third quarter. It was a career-high for the sophomore kicker until he later bested it with a 47-yard make with 5:45 left in the fourth quarter. His previous long entering the game was 42 yards versus East Carolina. Henriques has hit three 40 yarders in his career. He finished with seven points on 2-of-2 field goal attempts and 1-of-2 PAT attempts.