SMU’s Thomas Morstead kicks an extra point after SMU’s only touchdown in the loss to TCU over Family weekend this season. (Lindsey Perkins)
With two games left in the season the Mustangs travel to El Paso to take on the Miners.
As was the case the last time the Mustangs played in El Paso they will be missing offensive firepower. In 2006, SMU played without quarterback Justin Willis. This year they will play without top receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Aldrick Robinson.
Sanders and Robinson account for 2,005 of the Mustangs’ 2,885 receiving yards and 20 of 27 touchdowns this season.
The Mustangs played a majority of last weekend’s game against Memphis without starting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell who was injured on a play early in the second quarter. Backup Logan Turner threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
“He came in and did a nice job. I think that when he looks at the tape, he’ll be a little frustrated that he didn’t make more plays,” SMU head coach June Jones said. “As I tell those backup guys all the time, they’re one play away from being in there, and everybody’s counting on them to do their job. He came in and made some plays, and as he looks at the tape, he’ll feel like he should have made more.”
The Miners will be playing their final home game of the season and look to even their home record to 3-3.
“It’s always hard to go there (to El Paso) and play,” Jones said. “From my experience at Hawaii, it’s a tough place to play. If you let them get up on you early, the crowd gets into the game, but we’ll show up, we’ll play hard and do what we can do to come up with a win.”
Andrew McKinney has been the running game for the Mustangs the past few weeks. In the last three games the Mustangs have averaged 24.3 yards a game. McKinney has averaged 21.7 yards in those games.
“Right now they’re playing this great big huge guy, Andrew McKinney, at running back,” UTEP head coach Mike Price said. “He’s more of a tight end. He is a real good blocker and real good in short yardage. But they’ll run draws and screens to their backs too.”
Letting teams get up early has been a problem for SMU. The Mustangs have been outscored 93-65 in the first quarter. SMU hasn’t finished strong this season either, being outscored 96-58 in the fourth quarter. Both statistics have led to the 1-9 record for the Mustangs.
“I feel frustrated that we haven’t (won) – and not so much for me, because I know we’re going to win,” Jones said. “I feel frustrated for the alumni of SMU – I feel for the other people around. I know my principles, I know what our coaches are doing, and I know it wins football games, and we will win.”
The Mustangs’ struggles have been highlighted on the road. In five road games, the Mustangs have scored only 17 points a game and have given up at least 30 points in every road game, with an average of 39.6 points a game.
Last week against Memphis, SMU allowed the Tigers to get an early 14-point lead and SMU was never able to recover. The Miners have also had problems in the first quarter. They have given up 98 first quarter points to opponents but have scored 92 points of their own.
Last season’s 48-45 loss against UTEP was the first of three overtime losses the Mustangs would suffer in 2007. It was also one of five losses of just seven points or fewer.
The Mustangs have their chance tomorrow at 8:05 p.m. in El Paso at the Sun Bowl.
SMU defensive back Rock Dennis (10) tackles Tulsa wide receiver Brennan Marion (4) in a 37-31 loss on Oct. 11. (Lindsey Perkins)
