Memphis Postgame Notes vs SMU

Oct 25, 2014 | Football

Oct. 25, 2014

Junior Dion Witty made his first career start for the Tigers at safety.
Memphis' last 2-1 conference start came during the 2007 season when the Tigers began league play 3-1 en route to a 7-6 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Conference USA play.
The last time Memphis won multiple, road conference games was in 2008 when the Tigers went 2-2 on the road in league play. The Tigers defeated UAB 33-30 in Birmingham, Ala., and posted a 31-26 win over SMU in Dallas.
The last time Memphis won two straight on the road to open league play came in 1999 when the Tigers were 3-0 in Conference USA road games.
Prior to the SMU win, Memphis had lost 12 straight games which kicked off prior to the noon hour, Central Time. The Tigers were 0-5 in games which kicked off at 11 a.m. Central last year.
Memphis' last win in a game with a Central Time, morning kickoff came on Nov. 27, 2004 when the Tigers defeated USF in Tampa, 31-15
Memphis has scored 40+ points in two road, conference games this season (41-14 at Cincinnati). Memphis scored 40+ points for the 13^th time in a conference game since 2000.

Memphis surpassed its season scoring total of 234 points last year. With its 48 points against SMU, Memphis now has 250 points this season.
Memphis' 367 yards in the first half was a season high for a half. It is the fourth time Memphis has had 300+ yards of offense in a half, with all four coming in the first half.
Memphis had more yards in the half than for the total in 10 games last year, including the SMU game (320 yards last year against the Mustangs).
Memphis has scored in the first quarter of every game this season. The Tigers have now scored 78, first-quarter points.
Memphis finished with 352 yards passing a season-high and the 13th-highest total in single-game ranks.
Memphis had a total offense total of 594 yards, the sixth-highest total in single-game ranks. The total against SMU is the second this year totaling more than 590 yards (at Cincinnati-610).
QB Paxton Lynch was 17-of-23 for 307 yards passing against SMU. It was his third career, 300-yard passing game. His 307 yards ranks 27^th all-time at Memphis.
Lynch passed for 238 yards in the first half, the third time over 200 yards passing in a half this year.
Lynch's 54-yard touchdown pass to WR Phil Mayhue with 5:35 to play in the first quarter was a career long pass (breaking the previous mark of 50 yards against Middle Tennessee earlier this season).
The 54-yard scoring play was the longest play from scrimmage this season.
In the seventh game of his sophomore season, Lynch passed his season total for touchdown passes during his freshman season (9). With a touchdown pass against SMU, Lynch now has 10 touchdown passes this season and 19 for his career.
The play was Memphis' longest pass since a 63-yard throw from Jacob Karam to Marcus Rucker on Sept. 15, 2012 against Middle Tennessee. It was the longest passing touchdown since a 93-yard pass from Taylor Reed to Billy Foster against Austin Peay on Sept. 17, 2011.
WR Phil Mayhue caught his first touchdown pass. His 54-yard scoring reception surpassed his previous career high of 25 yards.
Mayhue finished the game with two receptions for 96 yards.
In his return to the Metroplex, Arlington native TE Daniel Montiel caught a career-high four passes for 84 yards. He had a career-long 26-yard reception in the game. He had two catches for 23 yards entering the game this season.
WR Tevin Jones registered his third-straight, five-plus reception game.
RB Jarvis Cooper rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. He had a 31-yard, second-quarter run which is the second-longest in his career.
TE Alan Cross had a rushing play for the first time since 2012, a one-yard scoring run with 9:08 to play in the first half. Cross previously had two rushing attempts for 0 yards. With his scoring run, Cross now has 11 total touchdowns.
RB Brandon Hayes had 101 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. He now has 1,768 rushing yards. Hayes' 36-yard touchdown run in the second quarter moved him up to No. 11 on Memphis' career rushing list, passing Teofilo Riley (1716, 1996-99). He later moved to No. 10, passing Jeff Womack (1764, 1983-86).
Hayes' 100-yard game was the first of the season and fourth of his career.
QB Jason Stewart's 29-yard touchdown pass to TE Robby Young was the first career pass and catch for the Tiger tandem.
WR Greg McKillion registered his first career pass reception.

DE Martin Ifedi moved onto the top-10 for tackles for loss in the game. He finished the game with on TFL and now has 30.5 for his career. Ifedi passed Kama Shakir (30, 1997-00).
LB Genard Avery recorded a third-down sack in the first quarter, which forced a missed 55-yard field goal by the Mustangs. The sack was the third of the season for the true freshman. Avery also recorded his first career pass breakup in the game.
Early in the second half, CB Andrew Gaines snagged his second career interception, his first since 2012.
DE Ricky Hunter notched his ninth career sack, and first career sack of the season.

PK Jake Elliott drilled a 37-yard field goal to end the first half. It was the first field goal for Elliott as time expired in a half and the fourth of his career in the final minute of a half.
Elliott added a 22-yard field goal in the third quarter. He finished with XX points, marking his third, 10-point game of the season. It was the fifth, 10-point game of Elliott's career.
Of Elliott's seven kickoffs, five were touchbacks. Elliott also had two kicks go out of bounds at the five, the first OB kick of the season for the sophomore.
P/PK Spencer Smith converted his first career point after try in the fourth quarter. He also kicked the ensuing kickoff, the first of his career.