Senior Adrian Haywood held the line together with the absence of Justin Rogers and Cory Muse. Also helping on the line was senior Brandon Bonds.

The Mustangs defense shined in the second half to help bring SMU back from a 14-10 halftime deficit.

SMU couldn’t stop the Marshall offense on the ground or through the air during the first half. Quarterback Bernard Morris threw for 112 yards and running back Amad Bradshaw rushed for 56 yards and two touchdowns.

In the second half Morris only threw for 80 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted three times, and Bradshaw only ran for 35 yards.

The defense held strong even though it was missing its two starting defensive ends. Filling in for starters Justin Rogers and Cory Muse, head coach, Phil Bennett, “thought our back up ends Patrick Handy, Troy Therien and Kyle Griffin did a good job in the game.”

The Mustang offense was unable to do much with the 199 yards it gained in the first half. Only putting 10 points on the board and turning the ball over once on a fumble.

Corey Slater started the game going three for six for 23 yards. Slater played both drives of the first half, putting the team in position for an opening drive field goal. The field goal was missed and Slater turned a 0-0 game over to Justin Willis in the second quarter.

Willis proved he was missed last week against UTEP driving the Mustangs 63 yards on nine plays, going 3-4 for 38 yards including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Zach Sledge. Willis also ran for 11 yards on the drive.

But Bennett has not forgotten about the incident. Bennett states that Willis is still in trouble with him. Bennett wouldn’t state specifics, although he did say that Willis “might be a little bit slimmer than he is right now, run a little faster.” But Bennett couldn’t deny that Willis makes the players around him better.

On the next drive Marshall marched back. After a failed third-down conversion, the Thundering Herd punted the ball away, and momentum was in the Mustangs favor. But a 15-yard facemask penalty called on defensive back Devin Lowery gave the ball back to Marshall and gave their drive new life. The Thundering Herd scored to tie the game and scored again on a Willis’ fumble. The Mustangs were able to manage a 34-yard field goal as time ran out on the first half.

In the second half Lowery earned redemption for the facemask penalty with an interception that led to a go-ahead touchdown pass from Willis to Emmanuel Sanders. The reception for Sanders gave him the SMU record for consecutive games for a touchdown reception with five.

With 12 minutes left in the game, Marshall took the lead 21-17. The Mustangs took no time retaliating with an 11 play, 80-yard drive that ended with another touchdown pass from Willis, this time it was a 7-yard pass to senior Reynaldo Pellerin. SMU never looked back.

After a fumbled kick-off, the Mustangs scored their final points of the game on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Willis to tight end Ryan Kennedy.

The next two Marshall drives ended on Lowery interceptions and the Mustangs took a knee to end the game.

Lowery’s three interceptions earned him Conference-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors due to his vital role in the Mustangs’ victory.

Willis’ four touchdown passes gives him 16 on the season, breaking the record for touchdown passes in a season for a freshman.

The team set season highs in first downs, rushing attempts, completions, fewest penalties and fewest penalty yards. The 4-3 start is the best for the Mustangs since their 5-2 record in 1986 and the five game winning streak is the best since 1981 and 1982.

This Mustang team has a legitimate chance to make a bowl game, and with some help could make it to a conference championship game, without two disappointing road losses this could be a different season. The Mustangs will take their 4-3 record to East Carolina next week and look to improve on a 1-3 road record.

Junior defensive back Devin Lowery intercepted three passes against Marshall on Saturday, they were Lowery’s first interceptions of his career.

SMU’s Joe Sturdivant (left) keeps Marshall’s Cody Slate (right) from receving a pass.