Memphis Football Postgame Notes at Connecticut

Dec 07, 2013 | Football

Dec. 7, 2013

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  Team Game Notes

Memphis’ game captains were LB Anthony Brown, P Tom Hornsey and TE Jesse Milleson. Memphis won the toss and deferred to the second half. UConn began the time by receiving and defending the east goal. 
Temperature at kickoff for Saturday’s game was 38 degrees. The game marked the first time Memphis played in kickoff temperatures in the 30s since the Tigers defeated SMU 55-52 in three overtimes on Nov. 24, 2007. Temperature at kickoff for the 2007 SMU game was 39 degrees. 
Under Memphis second-year head coach Justin Fuente, the coldest game-time temperature Memphis had experienced prior to the UConn game was 43 degree in a 24-17 loss at Louisville on Nov. 23, 2013. Previous to that, game-time temperature in a 38-28 loss at Marshall (Huntington, W.Va.) on Nov. 3, 2012 was 45 degrees. 
Memphis played its first game in a New England state. 
The Tigers wrapped up the year by playing back-to-back games against first-time opponents (Temple, UConn). 
Memphis’ uniforms did not include the customary name plates for the first time in the Justin Fuente-era. 
In his final game as a Tiger, DL Roderick Howard made his first collegiate start at nose tackle. Howard, a walkon who began his career at Lambuth (which closed its doors after the 2010 season) and later played at Harding, played in his fourth game of the season.

  Offensive Notes

QB Paxton Lynch became just the 10th quarterback in school history to pass for 2,000 yards in a single season and 16th in a career. Lynch finished the year with 2,056 yards (1,887 entering the UConn game). He is just the second freshman to pass for 2,000 yards during a rookie season. Ryan Williams passed for 2,075 yards as a freshman in 2010. 
Lynch completed 18-of-37 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown against UConn. 
For his career, Lynch completed 203-of-349 passes. Both season numbers rank sixth in school history. 
Keiwone Malone had his second 30+ yard reception of the season, a 34- yarder in the first quarter to help set up the Tigers’ first score. Malone had a 47-yard reception against Louisville two weeks ago. Malone finished with a season high six receptions for 69 yards to lead the Tigers. 
Freshman RB Marquis Warford saw his first playing time since the Cincinnati game. Warford had a one-yard run on the Tigers’ first offensive series.

  Defensive Notes

CB Andrew Gaines set a career high with 12 tackles. Gaines previous career best eight tackles against Louisville two weeks ago. 
The 45 points by UConn is the most allowed by the Memphis defense this season and highest since giving up 48 to Middle Tennessee in 2012.

  Special Team Notes

Ray Guy Award finalist Tom Hornsey averaged 39.4 yards on seven punts and had four downed inside UConn’s 20-yard line. 
Four of Hornsey’s seven punts were into the wind. The UConn game marked just the second time this season Hornsey averaged under 40 yards per punt. 
Hornsey finished his career with 73 punts of 50+ yards and has placed 101 career punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line. 
With a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter, Jake Elliott tied Ryan White for the most field goals by a freshman (16). Elliott also moved into a tie with White for the most field goals in a season. The rookie finished the year by converting on 7-of-8 field goals of 40 yards or more. 
Elliott also moved into sixth in most points kicking in school history with 72. It is the most points by a kicker since Matt Reagan 80 in 2007. 
Joe Craig had his second kickoff return of 50+ yards this season during the game. He had a 51 yarder against UConn. Craig had a 56-yard return against Temple the previous week. 
Craig had 177 kickoff return yards on six returns set a Memphis school record. Craig averaged 29.5 yards per return. Marcus Hightower held the previous record of 169 yards against Houston in 2009.