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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Vs. Memphis Notes
6/21/1999 | Football
EVANS GETS FIRST START:
Sophomore quarterback Kenton Evans start today against Ole Miss was the first of his career at Memphis. Evans appeared in two games last season, completing two-of-three passes for 20 yards. All of Evans statistics today were career highs for the first time starter.
HOWARD RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP PRIOR TO OLE MISS GAME:
Junior defensive back Reginald Howard, a walk-on who came to the Tigers in 1997, was given a scholarship by head coach Rip Scherer after practice on Thursday afternoon, September 3rd. Howard, a native of Memphis and a graduate of Kirby High School, signed with Henderson State after his prep career and lettered for two years. He led HSU and the conference in pass break-ups in 1996. He transferred to Memphis and walked-on in 1997, sitting out the season under the NCAA transfer rules.
FIRST TIME STARTERS:
In addition to first time starter Kenton Evans at quarterback, the Tigers also had new starters in offensive guard Artis Hicks, tight end Billy Kendall, linebacker DeMorrio Shank, safety Idrees Bashir and cornerback Reginald Howard. Seeing their first playing time as a collegian were linebacker Corey Irby, offensive guard Josh Eargle, tailback Torri Harmon and defensive back Michael Stone
HIGH SCHOOL HOOK-UP:
It was not unexpected that Kenton Evans first pass completion of the 1998 season would be to his former high school teammate Damien Dodson. Evans and Dodson were both high school all-Americans at Westwood High School in Memphis. Dodson was the all-time leading receiver in the history of prep football and Evans was the fourth all-time leading passer.
DEFENSIVE TAKEAWAY:
Michael Stones recovery of wide receiver Grant Heards fumble was Memphis first defensive takeaway of the season. Stone, who is a walk-on from Southfield, Michigan, was playing in his first college game.
WHITE ON TARGET:
Freshman Ryan Whites 37 yard field goal was the first of his college career. White, a redshirt freshman from Lilburn, Georgia, was appearing in his first game. His field goal was the first points of the season for Memphis.
MORE ON EVANS:
Kenton Evans 24 completions today tied for the fourth highest total in a single game in Memphis history. His four yard TD pass to Darrius Blevins was the first of Evans career and Blevins 7th receiving touchdown of his career.
Ole Miss Notes Millers 332 yard performance was the best by a quarterback in his first start in Ole Miss history. The previous best by a quarter back in his first start was Russ Shows on Sept. 8, 1990, with 324 yards passing in a 23-21 win over Memphis
Millers 355 total yards in todays game is the fourth-best total offense performance in Ole Miss history. He had 332 yards passing and 23 yards rushing. Archie Mannings 540-total yard performance vs. Alabama is the best total offense performance in Ole Miss history.
True freshman linebacker Eddie Strong entered the game on the fourth play of the contest. Strong recorded his first career sack in the first half.
Freshman running back Joe Gunns first career carry went for 35 yards. Gunn finished the day with 10 carries for 54 yards.
Sophomore Romaro Miller went 4 of 5 for 49 yards in first career drive as a starter.
Miller threw his first collegiate touchown pass to Cory Peterson with 4:41 left in the second quarter.
Miller's second touchdown pass to Peterson (77 yards) with 2:11 left in the second quarter is tied for the eighth longest pass in Ole Miss history.
Todays attendance of 46,191 surpasses the old record of 44,436 set against LSU in 1996.
Gary Thigpen had his fourth career interception in todays game.
Cory Petersons 77 yard reception in the second quarter. It is his career long. His previous career long was 44 yards against Central Florida.
Cory Peterson 164 yards receiving is the fourth best single-game performance (in terms of yards) in Ole Miss history. Eddie Small holds the record for most yards receiving in a single game with 210 yards against Vanderbilt in 1993.
Petersons two-touchdown performance was the best since the final regular season game of last season. Andre Rone was the last Ole Miss player to catch two touchdowns in one game against Mississippi State last season (15-14 Ole Miss win).
Freshman kicker Donald Juneau notched his first career-field goal of his career at 8:34 of third quarter. Juneaus field goal was from 38 yards out. Juneau made three-out-of-four PATs.
Running Duece McAllister ran in his first touchdown this season at the 10:38 mark. McAllisters score was a one-yard run.
The Rebels are now 11-0 in non-conference games during the Tuberville-era. During Tubervilles tenure, Ole Miss is 3-1 opening day.
Regan King blasted a career-long 57-yard punt at 4:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. His former career-long went for 53 yards against Auburn last season.
True freshman quaterback David Morris entered the game with 1:38 remaining. Morris is a freshman walk-on quarterback.
Freshman Running back Charles Stackhouse scored his first career rushing touchdown with a three-yard run at the 1:02 mark of the fourth quarter.
Sophomore receiver Ken Lucas had five receptions for 72 yards against Memphis. Both the number of receptions and total
receiving yards were career-highs for Lucas. Lucas previous best was three catches for 33 yards against Georgia last season.
