University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Murray St
Tigers Roll Past Racers, 52-6
Aug 31, 2002 | Football
Aug. 31, 2002
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Memphis quarterback Danny Wimprine threw five touchdown passes as the Tigers defeated Murray State 52-6 Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
The victory marked the first season opening win for the Tigers since 1993 when they defeated Mississippi State 45-35.
Wimprine completed scoring passes of 20, 24, 8, 15 and 11 yards in breaking the school record for touchdown passes he set last year against Army. He was 23-of-32 in the game for 245 yards before leaving midway through the fourth quarter.
The I-AA Racers had 285 yards of offense, but their only score came as a result of a Memphis turnover.
Wimprine wasn't alone in a Memphis offense that had 522 total yards. Freshman running back DeAngelo Williams rushed for 129 yards on 12 carries, while Dante Brown had 89 yards on seven carries.
Even the defense got on the board as Marcus West gathered up a Racer fumble and scored from 34 yards late in the game.
Wimprine's primary targets on the night were Darron White, who caught eight passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, while Travis Anglin had six catches for 72 yards and a pair of scores.
Memphis led 24-6 at the half behind Wimprine's passing and the running of Williams and Brown. Williams had 69 yards in the half, most of them on a 46-yard run.
Brown, meanwhile rushed for 48 yards before the break.
Wimprine's first half scoring passes were 20 yards to Antoine Harden on the game's opening drive, and 24 yards to Anglin.
Memphis' other first half score came on a 50-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.
The biggest problem for Memphis in the first half was holding on to the ball. The Tigers lost four fumbles, including a pair by Wimprine.
Murray State's only touchdown came when the Racers capitalized on a Wimprine fumble at the Tiger 27 as time was running out in the first half.
Murray State quarterback Stewart Childress covered the final yard on a fourth-and-goal dive with seven seconds remaining.
The Racers managed only 117 yards of offense in the half.
Wimprine's second half scoring passes were eight yards to Anglin, his second on the night, a 15-yarder to White, and 11 yards to Tavares Gideon.
