Junior running back Zach Line runs a hand-off from quarterback J.J. McDermott for a first down against TCU Saturday afternoon at Amon Carter Stadium. SMU defeated the Horned Frogs in overtime 40-33. (Michael Danser/The Daily Campus)
In the 91st meeting of the Iron Skillet rivalry, Southern Methodist University upset the previously 20th ranked TCU Horned Frogs. The Mustangs celebrated their first victory over TCU since 2005 as fans and players stormed the field excited to bring the Iron Skillet back to Dallas.
It looked as if SMU was going to cruise to an easy victory early as the Mustangs scored 17 unanswered points in the first half.
Similar to the Baylor game, where TCU rallied from a 25 point deficit in the fourth quarter to take a temporary one point lead only to be defeated, TCU fought back and scored 16 points in the fourth quarter against SMU to force overtime.
In overtime, TCU won the coin toss and with the SMU offense sputtering on their last offensive series of the fourth quarter, TCU elected to defend first and forced the SMU offense to take the field.
The decision worked in SMU’s favor when J.J. McDermott threw a 19- yard strike to Jeremy Johnson for a score to put the Mustangs up 40-33. According to PonyFans.com, Jeremy Johnson said, “When I caught it I was so overwhelmed I didn’t know what to do, but I was just so happy I caught it.”
Jeremy Johnson only played against Northwestern State and Memphis this year and saw little action in both games, but due to injuries he got the start on Saturday and was able to make the biggest play of the game for SMU.
The game was won in overtime with defense. TCU marched down the field on their last drive of the game, and quarterback Casey Pachall connected with Luke Shivers on a four yard pass to force overtime. Even though the Mustang defense had given up 23 points in the second half, they dug in and sealed SMU’s 40th victory over TCU when a fourth down pass from Pachall fell incomplete.
According to PonyFans.com, cornerback Chris Parks said about the game, “It was big because we wanted it, the fans wanted it and we haven’t beaten them since 2005. It’s just great to beat a top 25 ranked team to show people who we are.”
Chris Parks was the special teams hero on Saturday. Going into the second half TCU had all the momentum scoring ten unanswered points in the second quarter to make it a manageable seven point deficit. All that changed when Zach Line, who also rushed for 120 yards on 21 carries, forced a fumble that was recovered by Parks in the end zone for a score.
The Horned Frogs the last three seasons have impressively led the nation in defense, but failed for the second time this year, the other time in a loss to Baylor, to hold a team under 450 yards of total offense. This loss will jeopardize TCU’s top 25 standing in the AP top 25 poll.
Perhaps Head Coach June Jones put it best after the game. “This game for SMU is probably, since I have been here, equal to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl win with all of the excitement and emotions,” he said.
