Oct. 16, 2004

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -DeAngelo Williams rushed for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns Saturday as Memphis used a third quarter burst to defeat Tulane 49-24.

Darron White added a pair of scores for the Tigers (5-1, 2-1 Conference USA), including a 60-yard punt return, as Memphis scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to pull away from the Green Wave (1-4, 0-3).

Tavares Gideon also had a pair of touchdown receptions for Memphis.

Williams, who has rushed for at least 100 yards in 15 of the last 16 games, scored on runs of 10 and 5 yards. In addition to the punt return, White added an 8-yard scoring reception from Danny Wimprine. Gideon's touchdowns came on passes of 38 and 16 yards, the final one thrown by reserve quarterback Bobby Robison.

The combination of Lester Ricard to Roydell Williams accounted for all three Green Wave touchdowns on scoring passes of 37, 13, and 19 yards. Williams had six catches for 114 yards.

The Memphis offense racked up 483 yards with a balanced attack of 257 yards rushing and 226 through the air. Wimprine was 19-of-24 for 166 yards.

Meanwhile, the Tiger defense held Tulane to 90 yards on the ground.

The Tigers held a 21-10 lead at the half, but was far from dominant. Tulane receivers consistently got behind the Memphis defense, but Ricard, who completed 10 of 22 passes in the half, could not connect.

Ricard did find Williams from 37 yards early in the second period for the Green Wave's only touchdown of the half. Nick Beucher added a 46-yard field goal for Tulane's other score, the Wave's first field goal of the season.

Tulane also got its first interception of the year, by linebacker Anthony Cannon in the first quarter.

The Tigers had a 7-0 lead before the offense ever took the field on White's punt return for the opening score.

Memphis relied on its normal offensive strengths, the running of Williams and passing of Wimprine, but the roles were somewhat reversed for two Tiger touchdowns. Williams lined up at quarterback as Wimprine went in motion, and the ball was centered directly to Williams, who scored on both plays.