Golden Knights carve up Tigers 41-0

By Adam Douglas 

Sports Editor

 

 

 

In what was supposed to be a game where The University of Memphis would use a previous win as a stepping-stone toward improvement, the Tigers football team (2-7, 1-4 in Conference USA) was manhandled on Saturday afternoon by C-USA foe Central Florida, 41-0.

Sophomore dual-threat quarterback Jeff Godfrey led the Golden Knights.  

"I thought (Godfrey) got off to a good, strong start,'' said Tigers head coach Larry Porter. ‘‘He was the difference in the first half in what they were doing. He gave them the energy to play well.''

Godfrey completed 14-of-17 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 97 yards and another score through nearly three quarters before UCF head coach George O'Leary decide to give him the rest of the game off.

"He can beat you with his legs and he can beat you with his arm,'' said defensive end Frank Trotter. ‘‘You've got to find a way to contain him or he's going to take control of the game."

The struggling Tigers offense gained just six first downs, 134 yards of total offense and 33 yards rushing with 21 carries.

The defense didn't put forth their best effort, either, surrendering 505 yards of total offense to UCF, allowing their opponent to score 40 or more points for the fourth time in nine games.

It was the 11th time in 20 games in Porter's tenure as coach.

"(UCF) played exceptionally well,'' Porter said. ‘‘I felt we gave up too much, too early — third downs and big plays. Offensively, we didn't show up the whole day.''

Freshman Taylor Reed completed 9-of-20 passes for 97 yards and was sacked three times. Sophomore Andy Summerlin, who went 1-of-5 for four yards, replaced Reed in the fourth quarter. Senior Tanner Rehrer extended his receiving streak to 13 games with a 21-yard catch from Reed in the first quarter. He was later injured and did not return. Redshirt junior Curtis Johnson led the Tigers in receiving with three catches for 48 yards.

Junior linebacker Kenyata Johnson led the Tigers defense with eight tackles, with Trotter chipping in with two tackles for a loss and one sack.

Though they were beaten badly on the scoreboard, Johnson said the Tigers still felt they were prepared for UCF.

"They didn't do anything special. We just didn't do what we were supposed to do, and they picked us up real well and made us earn everything we had,'' he said.