Tulane 6, Memphis 45

1234T
TULN (2-10)00606
MEM (6-6)141410745

Final

3:30 PM ET, November 29, 2008
Liberty Bowl
MEMPHIS, TN

Memphis 45, Tulane 6

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Team Stat Comparison
 
1st Downs1032
Total Yards222488
Passing177109
Rushing45379
Penalties5-312-20
3rd Down Conversions3-99-14
4th Down Conversions1-11-1
Turnovers30
Possession22:2437:36
Air/Ground Leaders
Tulane Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Moore11/1915302
Elliott2/41400
Memphis Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Hall10/1210900
Tulane Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
McDonald72308
Robottom21518
Memphis Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Steele23135120
Washington977029
Tulane Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
King592039
Sparks234028
Memphis Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Jones449016
Black227014
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTERTULNMEM
TD08:51Maurice Jones 13 Yd Run (Matt Reagan Kick) 07
TD02:39Curtis Steele 9 Yd Run (Matt Reagan Kick) 014
SECOND QUARTERTULNMEM
TD14:54Steven Black 36 Yd Run (Matt Reagan Kick) 021
TD02:50Steven Black 2 Yd Run (Matt Reagan Kick) 028
THIRD QUARTERTULNMEM
FG09:10Matt Reagan 22 Yd 031
TD04:09Casey Robottom 8 Yd Run (Pat Failed) 631
TD00:56Steven Black 1 Yd Run (Matt Reagan Kick) 638
FOURTH QUARTERTULNMEM
TD07:16Brandon Ross 1 Yd Run (Matt Reagan Kick) 645
Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Steven Black ran for three touchdowns and Memphis capped a wild season with a 45-6 rout of Tulane in the Conference USA finale for both teams on Saturday.

The Tigers' (6-6, 4-4) win made them eligible for a fifth bowl trip in six seasons. Tulane (2-10, 1-7) finished with eight straight losses.

Memphis started 0-3 this year, and then had to win while weathering midseason injuries to three of its top four quarterbacks to clinch postseason play.

Black, a receiver, took six direct snaps out of the "wild" formation for 38 yards and scores of 36, 2 and 1 yards. Tailback Curtis Steele ran for 135 yards and a score, giving him 1,175 yards for the season -- the fourth best one-year effort in school history. The top three were turned in between 2003-05 by current Carolina Panthers running back D'Angelo Williams.

Wideout Maurice Jones opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run off a direct snap for Memphis, who stretched its lead to a 31-0 lead midway through the third, and freshman Brandon Ross scored on a 1-yard run in the final period to cap the scoring. The Tigers rolled up 379 of their 488 total yards on the ground. Arkelon Hall, who returned last week after being out with a broken thumb suffered at East Carolina on Oct. 18, hit 10 of 12 passes for 109 yards.

Memphis' defense limited Tulane to 222 yards and forced three turnovers, a fumble recovery by Brandon Patterson and interceptions from Greg Jackson and Michael Grandberry. The Tigers also blocked a field goal try.

Tulane's only score came on an 8-yard run by Casey Robottom late in the third quarter. Ross Thevenot missed the extra point, his first miss since early in the 2006 season.

College Football Scores

Other Scores:

Friday, November 28th
UTEP 21 Final
East Carolina 53
Saturday, November 29th
UAB 15 Final
UCF 0
Southern Miss 28 Final
Southern Methodist 12
Tulane 6 Final
Memphis 45
Houston 42 Final
Rice 56
Tulsa 38 Final
Marshall 35