Memphis Postgame Notes vs. Cincinnati

Oct 04, 2014 | Football

Oct. 4, 2014

Sam Craft made his first career starter at running back after 11 previous career starts at wide receiver for the Tigers.
The last time Memphis opened league play on the road with a victory was a 26-16 win at Army on Sept. 23, 2000. The Tigers won a conference, road opener for the first time since beating Rice 38-35 on Oct. 20, 2007.
At 3-2, Memphis is above .500 for the first time since a 25-9 victory at UAB on Nov. 17, 2007 improved the Tigers' season record to 6-5 en route to a 7-6 mark.
The 3-2 start is a best since the 2004 team went 5-1 en route to an 8-4 season.
Memphis has now won seven of its last eight games played in NFL stadiums. Memphis beat USF 23-10 last year at Raymond James Stadium. The Tigers had regular-season wins over Tulane in the Mercedes Superdome (2003, 2007, 2011). The Tigers have also competed twice in the New Orleans Bowl played in the Superdome, beating North Texas 27-17 in 2003 while losing to Florida Atlantic 44-27 in 2007. The Tigers beat Akron 38-31 in the 2005 Motor City Bowl played at Ford Field.
The Tigers played in the home stadium of the Cincinnati Bengals. Memphis head coach Justin Fuente's connection to the NFL team is its quarterback, Andy Dalton who Fuente coached at TCU. Under Fuente's tutelage, Dalton became TCU's career leader in every major passing category and set Mountain West Conference all-time marks for total offense (11,925 yards) and plays from scrimmage (1,730). Dalton was a two-time MWC Offensive Player of the Year and three-time bowl game MVP.
Memphis improved to 3-0 in games played on fields whose end zones included Bengal Tiger stripes.
Memphis' 41 points was the most in an American Athletic Conference game, surpassing 29 against SMU last year.
Memphis scored 40+ points for only the 12^th time in a conference game since 2000.

Memphis finished with 610 yards of total offense, the most since the Tigers had 630 against Cincinnati in 1984. The 610 yards of total offense ranks as the third-most in single-game history.
Memphis had 344 yards of total offense in the first half. It was more total offense than the Tigers managed in all of nine different games last year. The total against Cincinnati was just five yards shy of a 10^th game total last year.
Memphis scored 24 points in the first quarter and 27 during the first half. For the year, Memphis has now scored 112 first-half points (64 first quarter points; 48 second quarter points). Memphis scored 89 first-half points in all of 2013 (40 first quarter; 49 second quarter).
The 24, first-quarter points tied for eight-most in a quarter for a Memphis team. It was the third time AT Cincinnati the Tigers have scored 24 points. (1969, 1983 & 2014).
Memphis scored on its opening series for the third time this season.
WR Tevin Jones' 9-yard touchdown reception from Paxton Lynch was the junior receiver's third career TD reception and first of the season.
QB Paxton Lynch completed two touchdown passes in the same quarter for the first time in his career. It was the first time for the feat for Memphis since the UAB game in 2012.
Lynch completed 18-of-25 passes for a career-high 311 yards and two touchdowns. The game marked Lynch's fourth, multi-touchdown game of his career and third of the season. His first was last season against Cincinnati.
Lynch also ran for 45 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns.
Lynch was responsible for four touchdowns during the night. This is the second game Lynch has been responsible for four touchdowns (vs Austin Peay).
RB Sam Craft rushed for a career-high 170 yards in his first start at the position.
WR Mose Frazier had a career-long 33-yard run in the first quarter to set up a Tiger field goal and a 17-7 UM lead.
WR Adrian Henderson had a career-long, 43-yard reception in the second quarter to highlight a season-long, 87-yard scoring drive. He finished with 77 yards on three catches, both career marks.
WR Roderick Proctor had a career-long, 26-yard reception in the second quarter. He went on to have 61 yards on three receptions, both career marks.

Memphis scored 14 points off two Cincinnati turnovers. For the season, Memphis has now scored 45 points off turnovers. Memphis scored 53 points off turnovers in all of 2013.
CB Bakari Hollier's interception was the third of his career and his first since the Middle Tennessee game on Sept. 14, 2013.
On one first-quarter series, LB Tank Jakes recorded his third, multi-sack game of the season, his second forcing a Cincinnati fumble.
Jakes entered the game ranked second in the nation in tackles for lost yardage (2.3 pg). He had three TFLs alone in the first quarter. Against Cincinnati, Jakes had 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. He also forced a fumble that led to a Tiger touchdown.

Bobby McCain's 59-yard kickoff return was the second longest of his career and the Tigers' longest since 2012.
Jake Elliott improved to 10-for-10 on field goals with a pair of 20-yarders in the first half.