Memphis Post Game Notes

Oct 30, 2010 | Football

Oct. 30, 2010

TEAM GAME NOTES
 Captains for today's game were DB Darius Davis, WR Marcus Rucker and DL Frank Trotter.
 True freshman Lonnie Ballentine made his first career start at cornerback today. Ballentine has played five games this season and is one of 11 true freshmen to see action for the Tigers. Including Ballentine's start today, six of the 11 true freshmen to play have made starts for Memphis.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
 Senior defensive lineman Charlie Bryant saw his first action on offense today when he came in as a tight end and helped Jerrell Rhodes gain four yards on the play. Bryant transitioned to offense during the bye week.
 True freshman quarterback Ryan Williams tucked the ball and ran for 18 yards on Memphis' first offensive series. It was a career long run as his previous long was nine yards.
 Senior running back Gregory Ray posted a career-high 176 yards rushing in today's game. It was his second 100-yard game of his career with the other being 121 yards against Middle Tennessee. Ray is the first Tiger to rush for 175 yards or more since Curtis Steele ran for 232 yards against Tulsa last season.
 Gregory Ray logged a five-yard touchdown run with 14:21 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was his third rushing touchdown of the year; his fourth TD of the season. It was the first rushing touchdown for the Tigers since the Tulsa game on Oct. 2.
 Marcus Rucker and Curtis Johnson extended their receiving streaks to eight games with receptions in today's game.
 Cannon Smith came into the game at quarterback and finished the game having completed 2-of-5 passes for 65 yards and a rushing touchdown. He scored on a one-yard run with 9:50 remaining in the game. It was Smith's first career rushing touchdown. On that same drive, Smith completed a career-high 47-yard pass to Marcus Rucker.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
 Senior linebacker Jamon Hughes has led the Tigers in tackles in all eight games this season and 12-straight games dating back to last season. He logged 15 stops in today's game, and dating back to last season has tallied 14-straight games of six or more tackles. He came in to today's game ranked second nationally in tackles.
 Jamon Hughes (15 tackles) and defensive lineman Frank Trotter (10 tackles) each tallied double-digit tackles to mark the third time this season that two Tiger defenders had logged double-digit stops in the same game. The last time was against Tulsa when Hughes posted 12 tackles and DeRon Furr was credited with 10 tackles.
 True freshman Corey Jones logged his first career fumble recovery at the end of the third quarter. Jones finished the game with one tackle. It was just the second fumble recovery for the Tigers this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
 Kicker Paulo Henriques converted a 39-yard field goal with 9:57 remaining in the first quarter. Henriques is now 5-of-5 from 39 or less yards.
 Senior return specialist D.A. Griffin eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second straight week with 145 yards on eight kickoff returns. Griffin logged 128 yards against Southern Miss in just his second game returning kicks full-time this year. The eight kickoff returns are a career high and is tied for second in school history.