Oct. 18, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Losing two quarterbacks in the first quarter proved devastating for the Memphis Tigers as they dropped a 30-10 decision to East Carolina in Greenville, N.C., Saturday afternoon.
Memphis dropped to 3-5 on the year; 1-3 in Conference USA with the loss, while ECU improved to 4-3 overall; 2-1 in the league.
The Tigers took an early lead with a four-yard touchdown run from Curtis Steele with 1:32 left in the first quarter. Steele took the snap from junior quarterback Brett Toney, who was called to action after starter Arkelon Hall left the game on Memphis' first offensive series with a fracture in his thumb and backup Will Hudgens left on the second drive with a knee sprain. Toney has worked the last two seasons with the Tigers' special teams unit, holding for PATs and field goals.
Hall completed 2-of-3 passes for 23 yards before leaving the game, and Hudgens totaled one run for three yards and two incomplete passes before he was sidelined. Toney completed 11 of 15 passes for 65 yards.
"We were obviously feeling very good to start the game," said head coach Tommy West. "We then lost our two quarterbacks and I am not going to sit here and say that it didn't hurt us. We had a 10-7 lead at halftime and then we couldn't move the ball to start the second half and that was it."
"Not too many people can go three deep at quarterback and run your offense," added West. "It obviously hurt us down the field throwing the ball. Brett went in and tried to do what we asked him to do. Brett doesn't have experience seeing things and knowing where to go with it."
East Carolina tied the score at 7-7 with a 68-yard run from Jon Williams with 6:20 remaining in the second quarter. The Tigers used a 16-play drive on their next series and took a 10-7 lead with a 20-yard field goal from true freshman kicker Vinny Zaccario.
The Pirates held the Tigers scoreless in the second half and managed 13 points in the third quarter and 10 points in the fourth for the eventual 30-10 victory.
Rob Kass went 9-of-17 for 167 yards in his first extended action of the season. Kass, who replaced starter Patrick Pinkney in the first quarter, found Brandon Simmons for a 42-yard touchdown on the Pirates' first second-half series for a 13-10 lead.
A 28-yard scoring pass from Kass to wide receiver Dwayne Harris on the same pass play late in the quarter put East Carolina ahead 20-10. Rob Hartman added a 22-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter and Norman Whitley added a 12-yard scoring run with five minutes remaining.
"I was really disappointed in our defense today," said West. "We had a bust in the first half that gave them that long run. Then we had a couple more busted coverages in the second half that cost us. I am just really disappointed defensively right now. We looked wounded out there."
True freshman quarterback Tyler Bass entered the game in the fourth quarter and had two carries for six yards before tossing an interception. He finished the game with four rushes for 28 yards and completed 1of-3 passes.
"I didn't want to play Tyler because we really wanted to redshirt him this season," said coach Tommy West. "I put him in once we knew we were facing a situation where we had lost Will for the year and could have lost Arkelon for the year. If he is going to compete at quarterback, we needed to get him in the game."
Junior receiver Duke Calhoun extended his receiving streak to 32 games with a seven-yard reception in the first quarter. Calhoun came into the game ranked 11th nationally with the active streak and tallied two receptions for 16 yards in the contest. Earnest Williams led the receiving efforts with four catches for 31 yards.
"We have to get back to it this coming week," West said. "When you are down to your fourth guy at quarterback, it makes it tough to win. I can sit here and yell and scream but that won't help anything. We have to line up this week and find a way to get some offense and we have to play defense."
The Tigers will host Southern Miss next Saturday for the Homecoming contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast by CBS College Sports Network. There will be a parade on the U of M campus Friday at 5:30 p.m., and a pep rally will follow at the Student Activities Plaza by the Administration building at approximately 6:30 p.m.