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Bentley's Interception Preserves Cougar Win
Nov 2, 2002
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Joffrey Reynolds rushed for 122 yards and one touchdown and Nick Eddy threw two TD passes as Houston edged Memphis 26-21 on Saturday.
The Tigers had a chance to win as they moved to the Cougars 5 during a last-minute drive. But an interception by Houston's Matthew Bentley with 4 seconds remaining ended Memphis' hopes.
The victory was the second consecutive conference win for the Cougars (4-4, 2-3 Conference USA), who defeated Army on Oct. 19 to stop a 14-game conference slide.
Memphis (2-7, 1-5) has lost five straight and assured itself of its eighth consecutive losing season.
The difference in the game came in the third quarter, when the Tigers led 14-13 at halftime but managed only 24 yards in the period, with 13 coming on the next-to-last play on a run by Travis Anglin.
With the Cougars defense shutting down Memphis, the offense put together a pair of scoring drives, including one that went 98 yards in 17 plays, as Houston controlled the ball 11 minutes in the quarter.
Houston tight end Matt Mattox capped the 98-yard drive by recovering a fumble in the end zone to go up 20-14.
On Houston's next series, Eddy connected with Stephen Cucci for a 48-yard touchdown.
The Tigers tried to come back but managed only a 10-yard pass from Danny Wimprine to Tavares Gideon with just over 6 minutes remaining before the final attempt was ended.
Eddy completed 15 of 23 passes for 210 yards. Reynolds, the conference's leading rusher, carried 27 times in helping Houston control the clock.
Houston's first touchdown came after a fumble by Memphis early in the game.
Memphis stopped the Cougars on the opening drive, forcing them to punt. But
returner Darron White bobbled the ball, and Houston recovered at the Tigers 16.
Two plays later, Reynolds scored from 5 yards for an early 6-0 lead.
Houston scored again with 6:37 left before halftime after Memphis had the Cougars facing fourth-and-20 from the Tigers 33, and Eddy found Brandon Middleton for the touchdown.
Memphis got untracked by holding Houston to only 10 yards on its final two drives of the first half, and Wimprine drove the Tigers 64 yards and capped the drive with a 13-yard TD pass to Tripp Higgins. Dante Brown added a 2-yard TD run just before halftime.
Wimprine was 24-of-44 for 342 yards, and his two TD passes gave the sophomore a school-record 32. |
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