Emmanuel Sanders caught a touchdown pass for the fifth game in a row, a new SMU record.
The Mustangs are just 1-3 on the road and will once again be missing key players. Defensive end Cory Muse and running back DeMyron Martin will not play against East Carolina, and Jessie Henderson is still questionable for Saturday. But Justin Rogers will be back and the Mustangs will need him against the ECU offensive line.
SMU will be entering a hostile environment as it is ECU’s homecoming, and the Pirates expect a large crowd. The largest crowd the Mustangs have played in front of was in Lubbock against Texas Tech with over 50,000 people in the stands.
The Mustangs offense hasn’t shown that they can run effectively without Martin. The running back committee that has filled in for Martin has done a good job, but hasn’t been able to put together the big games.
Johnnie Fitzgerald, James Mapps, Cedric Dorsey and Fred Turner have all gotten carries in Martin’s absence and each has had good games, but none of them have come in the same game, or in continuous efforts.
Mapps had a solid game against Arkansas State picking up 132 yards and a touchdown, but followed it up with a negative 14 yards against Tulane. Turner posted 104 yards against Sam Houston State but hasn’t had a carry since. Both Fitzgerald and Dorsey have played well, but don’t have great numbers to show for it.
Behind Mapps quarterback Justin Willis is the second leading rusher on the team and leads the team in rushing touchdowns, with two.
Without a consistent running game the Mustangs have turned to their passing game and their defense to win football games.
Willis passed the 1,000-yard mark last week against Marshall and now has 1,049 yards and 16 touchdown passes. The touchdowns have been spread out to seven different receivers. Tight end Ryan Kennedy and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders each lead the team with five touchdown receptions.
The SMU defense has held strong throughout the season and will get some help with the return of Rogers. Last week it was Devin Lowery who stepped up for the Mustang defense with three interceptions, the last one ensuring a SMU victory.
Senior Joe Sturdivant currently leads the Mustangs in tackles with 65, Rogers leads the team with five sacks and Adrian Haywood leads the team in tackles for a loss with nine.
Since giving up 28 points at Tulane, the Mustangs’ defense has allowed fewer points each week. The defense will be asked to get through a large offensive line. The Pirate offensive line averages over 300 pounds and over 6-feet 5-inches. The shortest being 6-foot four-inches and 309 pounds, and the lightest is 6-foot seven-inches 300 pounds. The defense will have to rely on its speed to get by the massive ECU line.
Last week Willis proved how important he is to the Mustangs’ offense. After missing the tough loss to UTEP Willis put on a show against the Thundering Herd throwing for 208 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. Willis was also 10 yards short of being the teams leading rusher, and Willis is the second leading rusher for the Mustangs this season.
The Mustangs are still struggling on third down conversions. On the season they are 36-91 while allowing their opponents to go 52-109. The lowest point of the season was going 0-11 in El Paso, but that number improved last week. Against Marshall the Mustang offense went 8-14 on third downs, it was only the second time SMU had a success rate of over 50 percent.
Turnovers continue to work in SMU’s favor. The three interceptions by Lowery gave the Mustangs an edge in interceptions throwing only seven to their opponents eight, and have forced and recovered nine fumbles to their seven. The Mustangs are an overall plus three in turnovers.
Senior Reynaldo Pellerin was one of four receivers who caught touchdown passes in the Mustangs’ 31-21 victory over Marshall last week at Ford Stadium.
Willis missed the last road game, but was impressive in the Superdome when the Mustangs defeated Tulane 33-28.
