Memphis Tigers Football, NCAA Football NEWS
Memphis Blows 15-Point Lead, Loses To Rice
Published by MFSKEN on September 7, 2008
Rice cornerback Chris Jammer intercepted an Arkelon Hall pass in the closing seconds Saturday night and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown to complete a furious second-half comeback as the Owls defeated the Memphis Tigers, 42-35.
Memphis QB Arkelon Hall Scrambles Against Rice
The Tigers were up 35-20 with 8:33 left to go in the game and normally a 15-point lead midway through the fourth quarter would assure victory.
That didn’t happen Saturday night as Rice, behind quarterback Chase Clement, rallied for twenty-two unanswered points.
It should be noted the Tigers held Rice to just 77 yards of total offense in the first half. Rice was not in sync at all, and the Tiger defense was playing its best football in years.
However, in the waning stages of the game the Tiger defense switched to a three-man front in an effort to cover the Rice receivers.
Rice scored 39 of its 42 points in the second half, scoring on five of its last six possessions and outscored Memphis 29-14 in the fourth quarter.
Rice was impressive in its rally, beginning with 8:33 remaining when Chase Clement directed the Owls on a five-play, 69-yard drive resulting in a touchdown to cut the Tigers lead to 35-27.
On Memphis’ next possession the Tigers tried to control the clock but were forced to punt, giving the ball back to Rice. The Owls drove the ball 94 yard in 7 plays utilizing key 3rd down runs by Clement, and taking advantage of a key roughing the passer penalty.
”Defensively, we fell apart in the second half,” said Tiger coach Tommy West. ”They scored on five of their six possessions. We can’t let that happen. And the thing that killed us more than anything, defensively, was giving up third-down quarterback runs.”
Rice QB Chase Clement Fumbles Against Memphis
Memphis had the ball with 1:15 to get in field goal range. Starting from their own 28, they gained 34 yards in five plays and the win was within reach. Before the game, I predicted that for the Tigers to have a chance it would need to limit the turnovers.
On 3rd and 1 from the Rice 38, Hall threw what proved to be the most costly turnover of the young season for the Tigers.
Clement completed 26-of-44 for 318 yards and one touchdown and rushed 15 times for 80 yards and two scores. James Casey set a school record with 208 receiving yards on 11 catches.
”We just had to take a deep breath at halftime,” Clement said. ”We said this isn’t Rice football we’re playing.”
The Tigers out-gained their opponent for a second straight week as Memphis totaled 523 yards to 430 for Rice. Memphis also dominated the time of possession, keeping the ball for 34:39 to 25:21. Although the turnovers were even at two each, Memphis’ were more costly.
The loss spoiled what had been a solid performance by Hall, who passed for 373 yards and three touchdowns but was picked off twice, including the game-ending interception by Jammer.
Next week Memphis (0-2, 0-1 C-USA) travels to Marshall while Rice (2-0, 2-0 C-USA) travels to Nashville where they’ll face Vanderbilt.
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