University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Postgame Notes: Memphis vs. Mississippi State
Sep 18, 2021 | Football
KICKING IT OFF
• Coin Toss: Memphis won and deferred to the second half.
• Memphis Captains: Preston Brady, Sean Dykes and JJ Russell.
• Attendance: 43,461
TEAM NOTES
• The 31-29 victory moved Memphis to 3-0, the fifth time in the last seven years the program has started with three-consecutive wins.
• Memphis' win was the first in the all-time series since a 45-35 win in Starkville Sept. 4, 1993, and first in Memphis against the Bulldogs since Oct. 1, 1988.
• The win was the 12th for the Tigers in the all-time series (33-12 MSU).
• The Tigers have now won 17 consecutive games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the fourth-best streak in the nation behind Clemson (30), Notre Dame (26), and Cincinnati (22).
• The win was the 22nd straight win for the Tigers at home against a non-conference opponent.
• Memphis 98-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter was the program's longest since an 11-play, 98-yard touchdown drive at Houston Nov. 16, 2019.
• The Tigers won for the fifth consecutive time against a Power 5 opponent at home (Ole Miss-2019, UCLA-2017, Kansas-2016, Ole Miss-2015).
• Memphis held the Bulldogs to only 49 rushing yards, the first time the Tigers defense has held an opponent under 50 rushing yards since SMU rushed for just 25 yards Nov. 26, 2018.Â
PLAYER NOTES
• Defensive back Sanchez Blake Jr.'s fumble return for a touchdown was his first career touchdown and Memphis' first fumble returned for a touchdown since Jaylon Allen's against Houston Dec. 12, 2020.
• The 94-yard punt return for a touchdown by wide receiver Calvin Austin III was Memphis' first punt return for a touchdown since Austin had a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Stephen F. Austin Nov. 21, 2020.
• It was the longest punt return for a touchdown for the Tigers since 1975 and capped Austin's second career 100+ yard punt return performance.
• With 105 yards on nine catches, Austin III now has the eighth most career receiving yards in program history (1,783) with Damien Dodson's 2,096 next.
• The 100+ receiving performance for Austin was his eighth of his career, the fourth most in program history behind Anthony Miller (17), Damonte Coxie (11) and Duke Calhoun (10).
• Linebacker JJ Russell (14) and defensive back Greg Rubin (8) each set a new-career high in tackles.
• Punter/Kicker Joe Doyle's 51-yard field goal was his career-long and the longest for a Tigers kicker since Riley Patterson's 53-yard field goal in the Montgomery Bowl against FAU Dec. 23, 2020.
• Coin Toss: Memphis won and deferred to the second half.
• Memphis Captains: Preston Brady, Sean Dykes and JJ Russell.
• Attendance: 43,461
TEAM NOTES
• The 31-29 victory moved Memphis to 3-0, the fifth time in the last seven years the program has started with three-consecutive wins.
• Memphis' win was the first in the all-time series since a 45-35 win in Starkville Sept. 4, 1993, and first in Memphis against the Bulldogs since Oct. 1, 1988.
• The win was the 12th for the Tigers in the all-time series (33-12 MSU).
• The Tigers have now won 17 consecutive games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the fourth-best streak in the nation behind Clemson (30), Notre Dame (26), and Cincinnati (22).
• The win was the 22nd straight win for the Tigers at home against a non-conference opponent.
• Memphis 98-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter was the program's longest since an 11-play, 98-yard touchdown drive at Houston Nov. 16, 2019.
• The Tigers won for the fifth consecutive time against a Power 5 opponent at home (Ole Miss-2019, UCLA-2017, Kansas-2016, Ole Miss-2015).
• Memphis held the Bulldogs to only 49 rushing yards, the first time the Tigers defense has held an opponent under 50 rushing yards since SMU rushed for just 25 yards Nov. 26, 2018.Â
PLAYER NOTES
• Defensive back Sanchez Blake Jr.'s fumble return for a touchdown was his first career touchdown and Memphis' first fumble returned for a touchdown since Jaylon Allen's against Houston Dec. 12, 2020.
• The 94-yard punt return for a touchdown by wide receiver Calvin Austin III was Memphis' first punt return for a touchdown since Austin had a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Stephen F. Austin Nov. 21, 2020.
• It was the longest punt return for a touchdown for the Tigers since 1975 and capped Austin's second career 100+ yard punt return performance.
• With 105 yards on nine catches, Austin III now has the eighth most career receiving yards in program history (1,783) with Damien Dodson's 2,096 next.
• The 100+ receiving performance for Austin was his eighth of his career, the fourth most in program history behind Anthony Miller (17), Damonte Coxie (11) and Duke Calhoun (10).
• Linebacker JJ Russell (14) and defensive back Greg Rubin (8) each set a new-career high in tackles.
• Punter/Kicker Joe Doyle's 51-yard field goal was his career-long and the longest for a Tigers kicker since Riley Patterson's 53-yard field goal in the Montgomery Bowl against FAU Dec. 23, 2020.
Players Mentioned
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PK
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LB
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