SMU defensive end Margus Hunt, left, and linebacker Youri Yenga tackle Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson after scrambling from the pocket Saturday afternoon at Ford Stadium. SMU won the game 31-17, and moves to 6-5 overall, 5-2 in Conference USA. Marshall falls to 4-7 overall, 3-4 in Conference USA. (MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus (2010- Student Media Company)
The SMU Mustangs earned bowl eligibility after a 31-17 victory over Marshall on Saturday afternoon at Gerald J. Ford stadium. The win moves SMU to 6-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play.
“We are still not where we want to be but these kids have bought we talk about all the time and that is team and playing for each other,” SMU head coach June Jones said.
The Mustangs got on the board on their opening possession as quarterback Kyle Padron found wide receiver Bradley Haynes for an 8 yard touchdown. The score was set up by SMU freshman Kenneth Acker’s 62 yard kick return.
Early in the 2nd quarter Padron hooked up with wide receiver Aldrick Robinson on 42 yard touchdown strike to give the Mustangs a 14-0 lead.
“We made some plays in the passing game,” Jones said. “Kyle [Padron] made a big throw and Aldrick [Robinson] made a big catch.”
The Mustangs were not done lighting up the scoreboard as Padron scored his third touchdown of the day, this time on the ground. The sophomore quarterback plunged into the end zone from 1 yard out after a 45 yard run by SMU running back Zach Line.
Padron finished the game with 230 passing yards and 2 touchdowns.
SMU kicker Marcello Sada added a 20 yard field goal as time expired in the first half, giving the Mustangs a commanding 24-0 halftime lead.
Marshall began their quest for a comeback early in the second half as Thundering Herd kicker Tyler Warner split the uprights from 22 yards out less than two minutes into the 3rd quarter.
Padron was intercepted by Marshall defensive back Rashad Jackson on the Mustangs’ ensuing possession.
The Thundering Herd offense responded with a 32 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Anderson to tight end CJ Crawford to cut the deficit to 14.
SMU turned to their workhorse Line to get the offense rolling again the sophomore running back did not disappoint. Line accounted for all 84 yards the Mustangs’ 9 play 84 yard scoring drive as the 3rd quarter came to a close. Line’s 4 yard scamper into the end zone gave SMU a 31-14 lead heading into the 4th quarter.
On the day, Line racked up 202 yards and 1 touchdown on 30 carries.
The Thundering Herd also got things going on the ground as running back Essray Taliaferro dashed past the goal line for an 11 yard score.
Marshall and SMU exchanged interceptions on their next drives as SMU defensive back Chris Banjo recorded his 2nd interception of the year and Jackson tallied his 2nd of the game.
“We finally got momentum and an interception but we threw it right back to them so that was unfortunate,” Jones said. “We made a couple of mistakes but fortunately they didn’t come back to haunt us.”
The Thundering Herd offense threatened to score with less than two minutes left in the game but SMU defensive back Richard Crawford intercepted an Anderson pass to preserve the game for the Mustangs. Crawford finished the night with 6 tackles and 2 interceptions.
The SMU defense was led by linebacker Pete Fleps who led the team in tackles with 8. The Mustangs pressured Anderson all day and had a season high 5 sacks.
SMU honored 11 seniors after their last career regular season home game.
“This is a special group,” Jones said. “Four of our best players were in that 11 lineup in Fleps, Youri Yenga, Robinson, and Sterling Moore.”
The Mustangs will close out the regular season against East Carolina on Friday November 26 at p.m. in Greenville, North Carolina. If the Mustangs win their final game, they will win the division and represent the West in the Conference USA Championship game.
