Hoping to rejuvenate the nation’s last-ranked offense, SMUhead coach Phil Bennett made the decision to start freshmanquarterback Chris Phillips when the Mustangs (0-8, 0-5) took on theTulsa Golden Hurricane (4-4, 2-2).
It didn’t work.
Despite an outstanding day of rushing by star running backKeylon Kincade, the passing for the Mustangs was once again dismalas the Mustangs fell 16-35 for their eighth straight loss.
Kincade rushed 36 times for a career high 185 yards.
To add insult to injury, the Mustangs were penalized 119 yardson 17 penalties including six false starts and four offsidecalls.
“Penalties on offense and false starts put us in thehole,” Bennett said. “The wounds wereself-inflicted.”
On the windy day, the Mustangs scored on the opening drive totake an early 7-0 lead after a Kincade 11-yard run on a 79-yarddrive, but Tulsa would go on to score 21 unanswered points. Thescore on the opening drive was something the Mustangs had notaccomplished since Oct. 5, 2002.
Tulsa quarterback James Kilian completed an 18-yard pass toreceiver Garrett Mills that evened the score at the end of thefirst quarter.
In the second quarter, adjusting nicely to the wind, Kilianthrew a 3-yard touchdown to Mills again to give the GoldenHurricane a seven-point lead.
The team would take its lead into halftime as the Mustangoffense failed to move the ball.
In the third quarter, Kilian threw his third touchdown pass ofthe game on a 34-yard pass to Romby Bryant as the Golden Hurricaneextended its lead to 14.
SMU responded by putting with an offensive drive led by Kincadethat resulted in a Chris McMurtray 35-yard field goal to cut thelead to 11.
The fourth quarter started out positively for the Mustangs ascornerback Jonas Rutledge picked off a Kilian pass and took it 14yards for a touchdown, giving the Mustangs hope as the score sat at16-21.
Tulsa responded quickly with a drive that took under two minutescapped off by another Kilian touchdown again to Mills from fouryards out.
For insurance, Kilian threw his fifth touchdown of the game toBryant from 43 yards out to give Tulsa all the points it would needas the Mustangs fell 16-35.
Although Bennett did not intend for starting quarterbackPhillips to be the team’s “savior,” his 2-for-4passing day for 18 yards may have been less than what Bennett andMustangs fans were expecting. Phillips also rushed 12 times for 44yards.
Tate Wallis came in off the bench and had slightly more success,going 4-for-12 for 33 yards.
The Mustangs finished the day with 51 passing yards.
Once again, the Mustangs held an advantage in time ofpossession. The team had control of the ball 35:58 while the GoldenHurricane was in control for 24:02.
Tulsa quarterback Kilian’s five touchdown throws are themost in any game since Gus Frerotte threw six touchdowns in 1993.Kilian was 10-for-17 passing for 177 yards.
Bennett still feels the Mustangs are struggling offensively andnow thinks the defense is playing sporadically.
“We didn’t play good red zone defense, and I’mvery disappointed in it,” Bennett said.
In the upcoming game against Fresno State (4-4, 2-1), Bennetthopes to give more plays to the younger recruits.
“Some of the younger players are passing some of the oneshere,” Bennett said.
Phillips will once again get the starting snap for theMustangs.
The Mustangs take on the Fresno State Bulldogs in the homecominggame at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
