Loss leaves players with ‘familiar’ feeling
With the game scoreless at halftime it looked like SMU might pull off another home victory… but they didn’t.
Before a family weekend crowd of 11,832, SMU fell to Nevada 24-6, sending the Mustangs to 1-9 on the season.
“I think they just wanted it more,” linebacker Don Ieremia-Stansbury said. “We didn’t play where we needed to. We just didn’t step up.”
Despite a heroic defensive effort to clean up offensive mistakes, the Wolf Pack ravaged the ‘Stangs offense.
The Mustangs dropped balls and missed completions that could have secured an early lead. Bartel’s pass completion record was a mere 14-35 on the day with three interceptions.
“For the most part we were ready to go,” quarterback Richard Bartel said. “When the bullets started flying we didn’t get it done.”
Didn’t get it done was an understatement. Despite a 55-yard opening kickoff return by Jonas Rutledge and several pushes deep into the Wolf Pack’s territory, SMU failed to capitalize on the scoreboard until midway through the fourth quarter.
A bad call in the third quarter started the Mustang deflation. SMU sophomore defensive end Melvin Williams forced a fumble by Wolf Pack quarterback Zack Threadgill, which Ieremia-Stansbury then ran into the end zone. The play would have placed the Mustangs on top of the Wolf Pack. A replay on the big screen revealed referee Bill Athan incorrectly ruled Threadgill down before the fumble.., nullifying the potential score.
“We had the goal and the opportunity and it was taken away from us by the refs,” Ieremia-Stansbury said.
Even if the referee hadn’t shorted the Mustangs drive, the weak offensive performance would have most likely resulted in a loss. With a bye next week and only two games remaining in the season, SMU must look beyond the season’s mishaps and make it into a learning experience.
The offensive play of the game occurred when Bartel connected with senior tight end John Hampton on a 29-yard play that set up a touchdown by junior running back Kris Briggs, placing the Mustangs at 10-6 in the fourth quarter.
“When John caught the one that we ended up capitalizing on and scoring it felt good,” Bartel said.
Despite good feelings a failed extra point and two more interceptions late in the fourth quarter depleted any hopes or chance of a victory.
“It is a season we can grow on,” Bennett said.
With any hope the upcoming bye week will give time to help sprout a stronger offense in the last weeks of the season.
Loss leaves players with ‘familiar’ feeling
