Pirates sink Tigers with big 2nd half

Football team plunges to 1-6 record

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

Through three quarters, the University of Memphis football  team put up a good fight against East Carolina University. It wasn't enough, as the Tigers (1-6, 0-3 in Conference USA) eventually folded to the Pirates, 35-17, The U of M's 17th loss in its last 19 games.

Though the Tigers played well in the first half with senior quarterback and Wake Forest transfer Skylar Jones running the offense, the Pirates' offensive attack overwhelmed Memphis' defense in the second half. ECU carved up the Tigers defense for more than 400 yards of total offense.

"I want to thank ECU for playing a 60-minute game," said Tigers head coach Larry Porter. "We didn't play a full ball game and as a result in the second half, they pulled away from us."

The Tigers led 10-7 at the half, though both teams had yet to find their stride offensively.

With a 54-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Johnson taken away after review in the first half, the Tigers were forced to settle for a field goal from junior Paulo Henriques. The would-be touchdown was a momentum-killer for the Tigers.

"Certainly you want to have seven points instead of three," Porter said. "But by it being so early in the game, you never want to take points off the board."

Jones completed 10 of 18 passes for 124 yards and threw two interceptions. He started in place of freshman Taylor Reed, who was nursing a sore back, and sophomore Andy Summerlin, who was out with an ankle injury. Though a third-string quarterback, Jones said that as the most experienced of the trio, he has to play better.

"I got a little greedy out there in throwing those interceptions," he said. "I just need to be (better) in my decision-making. Mistakes are going to happen; you just have to bounce back. Hopefully I showed coach that I am capable of making explosive plays."

Though Jones did look like he had the potential to lead the Tigers the rest of the season, if need be, Porter wasted no time in saying who would be the starter this weekend against Tulane University in New Orleans.

"Taylor (Reed) is our starting quarterback," he said. "Certainly Skylar opened our eyes, and we'll see what we can do with him as we go forward."