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| Memphis gets a huge game from Steele in loss
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| Staff CollegeFootballNews.com | Nov 28, 2009 | ||
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Memphis Tigers 2009 ... Head Coach: Tommy West
Memphis Tigers Nov. 27 at Tulsa 33 … Memphis 30 OT Curtis Steele ran for 232 yards and touchdowns from 59, 77, 29, and three yards out, but Tulsa was able to rally back with a two-yard Trae Johnson touchdown catch, his second score of the game and G.J. Kinne’s third touchdown pass, with 32 seconds to play. In overtime, James Lockett picked off a pass bobbled by Steele, and Kevin Fitzpatrick nailed the 37-yard field goal to give the Golden Hurricane the win. Player of the Game: In a losing cause, Memphis RB Curtis Steele ran 19 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 25 yards. Memphis: Passing: Arkelon Hall, 9-17, 79 yds, 1 INT Rushing: Curtis Steele, 19-232, 4 TD, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 4-25 Tulsa: Passing: G.J. Kinne, 27-40, 268 yds, 3 TD, 1 I INT Rushing: G.J. Kinne, 16-57, Receiving: Damaris Johnson, 8-89 What It All Means: Tommy West’s team didn’t catch much of a break this season, but give it credit; it never gave up. This is a team that could’ve packed it in, but it kept fighting in the finale with Curtis Steele coming up with a whale of an effort to almost send West out a winner. In comes Larry Porter from LSU to give the program a new direction, but West had a solid career. His team, though, simply didn’t play any defense this year. Nov. 21 at Houston 55 … Memphis 14 Houston had no problems putting away Memphis to stay alive for the Conference USA title. Case Keenum threw five touchdown passes in the first 34 minutes on the way to a 49-14 lead, and then Cotton Turner took over and added an 18-yard scoring pass. L.J. Castile caught two scoring passes for the Cougars and Charles Sims ran for scores from 13 and five yards out. Houston outgained MU 689 yards to 344. Player of the Game: Houston QB Case Keenum 29-of-39 passes for 405 yards and five touchdowns Memphis: Passing: Will Hudgens, 9-18, 60 yds Rushing: Curtis Steele, 28-160, 2 TD, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 5-17 Houston: Passing: Case Keenum, 29-39, 405 yds, 5 TD Rushing: Charles Sims, 15-90, 2 TD, Receiving: Tim Monroe 7-92, 1 TD What It All Means: Memphis isn’t giving up. The Tigers are battling hard and they’re trying to make something positive happen late, but they’re on a five-game losing streak with a trip to Tulsa to close. The defense was too porous this year, the passing game too erratic, especially against the Cougars, and Curtis Steele didn’t do enough to carry the attack. This wasn’t supposed to be a good year, but 2-9 at this point makes the Tigers one of the league’s most disappointing teams. Nov. 14 at UAB 31 … Memphis 21 Joe Webb connected with Frantrell Forrest on touchdown passes from 12 and 26 yards out, he ran for a 15-yard score, and threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Nick Adams on the way to a 31-7 lead. Memphis kept fighting and scored 14 points in the fourth on short runs from Curtis Steele and Brett Toney. The two teams combined for 719 passing yards. Player of the Game: UAB QB Joe Webb completed 18-of-25 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 21 times for 52 yards and a score. Memphis: Passing: Will Hudgens, 26-41, 333 yds Rushing: Curtis Steele, 20-107, 2 TD, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 4-79 UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 18-25, 378 yds, 3 TD Rushing: Joe Webb, 21-52, 1 TD, Receiving: Frantrell Forrest, 7-129, 2 TD What It All Means: Head coach Tommy West is gone, but he’s coaching out the string, and his team isn’t quitting even with nothing going right. On a four-game losing streak and with no defense whatsoever, the Tigers need to ramp up the offense even more in a big hurry to have any hope of staying with Houston next week. The loss to UAB closes out the home season, and now it’ll be interesting to see if the team tries in the final two games on the road with massive changes coming next year. Nov. 7 at Tennessee 56 … Memphis 28 Jonathan Crompton threw five touchdown passes to five different receivers and ran for a one-yard score on the way to a 49-7 Tennessee lead. The Vols never had to punt before Crompton got pulled when the game got out of hand, and they got up 35-0 before Memphis got on the board with a 36-yard Marcus Hightower run. In the loss, Memphis rolled up 403 yards with Curtis Steele running for 144 yards and two short scores. Player of the Game: Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton completed 21-of-27 passes for 331 yards and five scores, and he ran for a short score. Memphis: Passing: Will Hudgens, 19-31, 194 yds, 1 INT Rushing: Curtis Steele, 21-144, 2 TD, Receiving: Cam Baker, 5-57 Tennessee: Passing: Jonathan Crompton, 21-27, 331 yds, 5 TD Rushing: Montario Hardesty, 13-60, Receiving: Denarius Moore, 7-76, 2 TD What It All Means: The Memphis defense wasn’t even close in the first half against Tennessee and the passing game couldn’t keep up the pace. Now on an ugly string of five losses in their last six games, the Tigers have to close out strong starting with a win over UAB. With road trips to Houston and Tulsa to finish up, it’ll be tough to go on any sort of a winning streak with the way the defense is playing. The offense has to do more to start bombing away, even with Curtis Steele running extremely well. Oct. 27 East Carolina 38 … at Memphis 19 Pat Pinkney ran for touchdowns from three and 23 yards out and he threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Darryl Freeney as ECU had few problems with the Tigers. The Pirates got up 21-3 in the first half before Memphis got in the end zone on a 14-yard Carlos Singleton catch, but wasn’t able to get close. ECU outgained Memphis 275 yards to 84. Player of the Game: East Carolina RB Dominique Lindsay ran 22 times for 139 yards Memphis : Passing: Will Hudgens, 33-48, 313 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Curtis Steele, 15-79, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 9-91 East Carolina: Passing: Pat Pinkney, 14-26, 216 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Dominque Lindsay, 22-139, Receiving: Darryl Freeney, 5-116, 1 TD What It All Means: The passing game was working, but not until it was too late. Will Hudgens threw well, bombing away for 313 yards, but the star of the game was punter Matt Reagan who averaged 51 yards per boot. The defense didn’t do its part allowing the three early scores and having problems with anything ECU wanted to do. Giving up 275 yards rushing and 222 through the air was just another day at the offense for the Tiger D, With Tennessee up next, Houston coming up in a few weeks, and three of the final four games away from home, it’s not going to be a pretty finishing kick. Oct. 17 at Southern Miss 36 … Memphis 16 Southern Miss broke open a tight game with 21 straight points with one-yard touchdown runs from Damion Fletcher and Tory Harrison and a 50-yard Tracey Lampley punt return for a score. A three-yard Fletcher run put the Golden Eagles up 30-9 before Memphis finally got into the end zone on a 12-yard Duke Calhoun catch. The two teams combined for 21 penalties. Player of the Game: Southern Miss LB Cordarro Law made ten tackles with three tackles for loss Memphis: Passing: Will Hudgens, 26-42, 255 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Curtis Steele, 24-136, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 10-76, 1 TD Southern Miss: Passing: Martevious Young, 10-21, 155 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Damion Fletcher, 17-67, 2 TD, Receiving: DeAndre Brown, 5-83, 1 TD What It All Means: Memphis is in desperate need of a big play or two here and there to spark the offense. It got going against a bad UTEP team two weeks ago, but it couldn’t keep up with Southern Miss, even though the defense did its job. The offense simply isn’t scoring, and even though RB Curtis Steele is providing the punch on the ground, and Will Hudgens threw the ball well, the 11 penalties, two turnovers, and problems on third downs killed drives. Memphis can’t keep settling for field goals. Oct. 10 at Memphis 35 … UTEP 20 Curtis Steele ran for 240 yards and two touchdowns and Will Hudgens threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Rucker and a six-yarder to Duke Calhoun on the way to a key win. The Miners stayed alive on a 56-yard Jeff Moturi touchdown catch late in the second quarter and pulled within eight on the 21-yard Kris Adams catch, but Steele put it away on a nine-yard scoring run. Player of the Game: Memphis RB Curtis Steele ran 39 times for 240 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught two passes for ten yards and a score. UTEP: Passing: Trevor Vittatoe, 21-40, 319 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Donald Buckram, 18-58, Receiving: Jeff Moturi, 5-118, 1 TD Memphis: Passing: Will Hudgens, 19-33, 216 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Curtis Steele, 39-240, 2 TD, Receiving: Carlos Singleton, 5-105 What It All Means: There’s the Curtis Steele everyone had been waiting for since the 90-yard day in the opener against Ole Miss. When he’s carrying the offense, everything else works because Will Hudgens doesn’t have to press as much. The defense gave up too many passing yards, and the ten penalties were an issue, but this was a desperately needed win to possibly turn the season around. If the Tigers can win at Southern Miss, then it’s really time to think that the team can become decent. Oct. 3 UCF 32 … at Memphis 14 Brynn Harvey ran for a career-high 219 yards with a score on a 25-yard run to finally put the game away in the final minute, and Nick Cattoi nailed four field goals for the Knights. Memphis was dominated, but it stayed alive on a 61-yard Duke Calhoun touchdown catch and a 12-yard scoring grab from DajLeon Farr, but the offense failed to get back on the board as UCF scored 23 unanswered points. Brett Hodges threw two touchdown passes for UCF including a 22-yarder to Jamar Newsome midway through the fourth. Player of the Game: UCF RB Brynn Harvey ran 42 times for 219 yards and a touchdown Memphis: Passing: Will Hudgens, 6-15, 143 yds, 1 TD Rushing: Lane Smith, 8-35, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 4-162, 1 TD UCF: Passing: Brett Hodges, 16-28, 214 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Brynn Harvey, 42-219, 1 TD, Receiving: Jamar Newsome, 5-58, 1 TD What It All Means: Memphis lost to a mediocre UCF team by 18 points and it should’ve been a lot worse. The offense has basically given up hope of producing on a regular basis because nothing is working. The O line is actually playing relatively well, especially in pass protection, but the skill players aren’t producing. After such a great year in 2008, RB Curtis Steele has become an afterthought. On the other side, the run defense has been getting gouged, which isn’t a plus with UTEP and Southern Miss coming up next. Sept. 26 Marshall 27 … at Memphis 16 Darius Marshall ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns scoring from two, 69, and five yards out, but Memphis stayed in the game helped by three Matt Reagan field goals and a 80-yard Duke Calhoun touchdown pass, but the Herd was able to control the clock and the game, putting it away for good in the final minutes with a 18-yard Craig Ratanamorn field goal. The two teams combined for 18 penalties. Player of the Game: Marshall RB Darius Marshall ran 25 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed a pass for 23 yards. Memphis: Passing: Tyler Bass, 17-34, 232 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Tyler Bass, 14-64, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 5-141, 1 TD Marshall: Passing: Brian Anderson, 10-18, 97 yds Rushing: Darius Marshall, 25-203, 3 TD, Receiving: Cody Slate, 3-45 What It All Means: Tyler Bass tried to do what he did to carry the offense once again, but he needs more help and he needs the defense to come up with more big stops. The biggest issue against Marshall was the inability to finish. It was nice that Matt Reagan was solid on his three field goals, but they were all short. Those drives have to culminate in touchdowns for an offense that isn’t going to get a whole bunch of chances. Next up is UCF, and that’s winnable if the offense can finally start putting up some points against a defense with a pulse. Sept. 19 at Memphis 41 … UT Martin 14 Memphis got two three touchdown passes from Tyler Bass, with two going to Carlos Singleton, and he ran for a seven-yard score on the way to a 31-0 lead. The Skyhawks got on the board with a 44-yard catch from Eunique Williams,, but the outcome had been decided. UTM committed 18 penalties for 157 yards. Player of the Game: Memphis QB Tyler Bass completed 22-of-28 passes for 293 yards and four scores and ran 16 times for 80 yards and a touchdown UT Martin: Passing: Cade Thompson, 11-29, 209 yds, 1 TD Rushing: Miguel Barnes, 19-105, 1 TD, Receiving: Dexter Anoka, 5-46 Memphis: Passing: Tyler Bass, 22-28, 293 yds, 4 TD Rushing: Tyler Bass, 16-80, 1 TD, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 9-174, 1 TD What It All Means: Welcome to the world of Tyler Bass. Arkelon Hall wasn’t moving the offense, and Bass adds more mobility and more pop to the lifeless attack. He not only ran well, but he was almost perfect throwing the ball. Is he going to be able to carry the offense against Marshall, UCF, and UTEP, which are three winnable Conference USA games to start out the league season? The defense has to be better for a full sixty minutes than it was over the first two games, and the rest of the offense can’t stand around and wait for Bass or Hall to do everything. Sept. 12 at Middle Tennessee 31 ... Memphis 14 Middle Tennessee took control of the game in the second quarter on a 40-yard touchdown catch from Shan Blissard to spark a run of 24 straight points. Dwight Dasher finished with two touchdown passes while D.D. Kyles and Phillip Tanner each ran for short scores. A sluggish Memphis team managed just 219 yards, but it tied it at seven early on a 12-yard Curtis Steele run. The Tigers didn't get back on the board until there was less than two minutes to play with Lance Smith running for a three-yard score. Player of the Game: Middle Tennessee QB Dwight Dasher completed 18-of-26 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran 17 times for 89 yards Memphis: Passing: Arkelon Hall, 13-22, 93 yds, 1 INT Rushing: T.J. Pitts, 9-40, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 4-27 Middle Tennessee: Passing: Dwight Dasher, 18-26, 231 yds, 2 TD Rushing: Dwight Dasher, 17-89, Receiving: Patrick Honeycutt, 5-71, 1 TD What It All Means: Where was the Tiger defense that did such a great job of keeping Ole Miss in check for three quarters? Memphis was way too sluggish on both sides of the ball with the passing game inexplicably bad, the big receivers should be doing far more, and Curtis Steele and the ground game never getting going. Playing UT Martin next should cure plenty of problems, but this has been an ugly start for a team that should be far better. Sept. 6 Ole Miss 45 ... at Memphis 14 Ole Miss was in a dogfight with Memphis pulling within ten with just over nine minutes to play, and then Jevan Snead and the offense work up. Snead had a rough start and wasn't sharp but he connected with Markeith Summers on an 18-yard touchdown pass, and following a Memphis fumble on the ensuing kickoff, he found Dexter McCluster on a 17-yard touchdown catch. Enrique Davis added a cosmetic score with a 29-yard touchdown run with six seconds to play. Memphis was outgained 349 to 284, but was alive up until the final six minutes. Curtis Steele ran for two short scores for the Tigers. Player of the Game: Ole Miss safety Johnny Brown made 15 tackles, picked off a pass, recovered a fumble, and made a tackle for loss. Memphis: Passing: Arkelon Hall, 15-30, 110 yds, 2 INT Rushing: Curtis Steele, 19-90, 2 TD, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 5-53 Ole Miss: Passing: Jevan Snead, 12-22, 175 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Brandon Bolden, 9-71, 1 TD, Receiving: Dexter McCluster, 6-65, 1 TD What It All Means: There were several opportunities for Memphis to take advantage of Ole Miss mistakes to have an upset bid, but Arkelon Hall and the passing game couldn't keep things moving and there were was only 284 yards of total offense. The final score was far worse than the game was with the wheels coming off late, but for around 53 minutes, Memphis showed it could hang around with a team good enough to be in the national title discussion and the play of the defensive front and the hard-hitting from this game has to continue over the next several games. There's no one on the schedule until a trip to Tennessee early in November that the Tigers can't beat. Copyright © Scout.com and CollegeFootballNews.com | |||