MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It has been years since Memphis had six wins and longer since the team was eligible for a bowl.
The Tigers accomplished both Saturday as Danny Wimprine threw 268 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-24 victory over East Carolina.
The win gives Memphis its first six-win season since 1994 and makes the Tigers bowl-eligible for the first time since they went to the Pasadena Bowl with a 4-6 record in 1971.
"This is huge," Wimprine said. "We haven't been here in so long, but we're not satisfied, so we're going to keep pushing hard and working and trying to get the next one."
DeAngelo Williams rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers, who won their third in a row.
At the half, it was tied at 17 after the Pirates put together their best opening quarter of the season. But Memphis caused two fumbles and held East Carolina to 17 total yards in the third.
UAB 24, ARMY 9: Nick Coon caught a 91-yard touchdown and the host Blazers' extended Army's losing streak, the longest in I-A, to 11 games. Coon, a freshman, has six catches this season, three for touchdowns of more than 50 yards. Trey Chaney rushed for 99 yards on 21 carries for Alabama-Birmingham. Zac Dahman completed 34-of-51 for 238 yards and a touchdown for Army.
UAB opened scoring midway through the second quarter on Chris Williams' 91-yard TD pass to Coon, who caught a 45-yarder early in the third to set up Nick Hayes' 50-yard field goal. The Black Knights recovered three fumbles in UAB territory in the third, but managed only Anthony Zurisko's 36-yard field goal. Army's touchdown came on Dahman's 27-yard pass to Walter Hill with 5:18 left.
SO. MISS 48, LA.-LAFAY. 3: Dustin Almond threw three touchdowns and rushed for another as host Southern Miss compiled a season-best 550 total yards. For the second straight game, the Golden Eagles prevented an offensive touchdown while limiting Louisiana-Lafayette to 200 yards. The Golden Eagles scored on five of their first six possessions and led 21-0 before the Ragin' Cajuns managed a first down. Anthony Harris rushed 16 times for 130 yards and a touchdown, his second straight 100-yard game since being moved from fullback to tailback.
NAVY 35, TULANE 17: Quarterback Craig Candeto ran for 140 yards and three touchdowns for the host Midshipmen. Navy, ranked first in the nation in rushing offense, gained 357 yards. Kyle Eckel added 120 yards on 26 carries, marking the second time this season two Navy rushers topped 100 yards in a game. The Green Wave lost its fifth straight. Tulane's Mewelde Moore gained more than 100 yards rushing for the fifth straight game, with 115 yards on 19 carries.
