Mustangs fall to Bears, 7-10

When it was all said and done Saturday evening, the Mustangscame away from Floyd Casey Stadium losers to the Baylor Bears inWaco.

This was their first meeting since 1995, so it was expected thatthe two teams would feel each other out at the beginning of thegame. The tough first quarter was dominated by Keylon Kincade.

Kincade rushed 10 times for 30 yards.

The SMU defense held tough, yielded no points, and gave the Ponyoffense momentum and field position going into the secondquarter.

At the beginning of the second quarter, quarterback RichardBartel found receiver Matt Rushbrook open in the end zone.

This gave the Mustangs a 7-0 lead.

After a three-and-out by Baylor, Bartel connected with TreyGriffin on a 22-yard pass play; however, the Mustang offensestalled and was forced to punt.

From this point forward the ‘Stangs slowed down, and theBears pounced on the opportunities given to them.

The Bears blocked a punt, changing field position in theirfavor. The Mustangs still led the game, then Baylor recovered amuffed punt on the Mustang 8-yard line.

The Mustangs held strong using their pass rush to send Baylorquarterback Aaron Karas backward.

Don Ieremia Stansbury’s solo sack and Melvin Williams andAllan Adami’s combined effort on two consecutive sacks ofnine and four yards held Baylor to a field goal. SMU still had a7-3 edge over the home team.

They managed to keep the lead going into intermission afterpreventing Baylor from capitalizing on a Bartel interception.

SMU’s Melvin Williams recovered a fumble caused by D. D.Johnson.

The second half started with an early mistake and led to thenext score by the Bears.

The Mustang team that came out for the start of the second halfwas a different team than that of the previous half.

The one that left the field in the first half had more time ofpossession by almost a minute and held Baylor to 69 yardstotal.

The Mustangs sputtered on offense in the second half and Baylorcapitalized.

The Bears’ conservative gameplay put them in thedriver’s seat. They took a 10-7 lead late into the thirdquarter and had the game all but won after overwhelming woes onoffense and special teams.

The Mustangs failed to call a timeout on a fourth-down play,leaving them six yards to go on the play instead of the originalone yard.

This forced the Mustangs to punt, ending their chances for awin.

“We did not execute on special teams,” saiddefensive end Don Ieremia-Stansbury, “also, we did not stepup and make the big plays when we needed them.”

Bartel finished the game 12-25 for 106 yards and one touchdown.Kincade rushed 30 times for 113 yards and is now 85 yards behindKyle Rote for 10th on the all-time rushing list.

Chris Cunningham finished with a team-high four receptions.Defensively, D.D. Johnson and Brian Bischoff had 11 and 10 tacklesrespectively.

The game was marred by special teams woes by SMU. A blockedpunt, missed field goal, and 122 total yards on Baylor specialteams play changed the completion of the game for the Mustangs,whose offense lacked the firepower and resolve to close the gamewhen they led at the half.

Inability by the offense to be stingier with the football led totwo turnovers, and a miscue on special teams led to the third. Evenwith this performance, the Mustangs mustered up 209 yards toBaylor’s 158.

This week the team will rally around the performance of KeylonKincade, who passed David Bostick, Rodnick Phillips and Doak Walkeron the SMU career-rushing list.

His predecessor, Doak Walker ran for 1,954 yards during hiscollegiate tenure. “KK,” as he is called by teammates,now has 1,964 yards.

Saturday’s home opener against Oklahoma State will betelevised live from Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Fox Sports Southwest.Kickoff is at 6 p.m.