Ponies fall to Owls, 41-20
Despite a well-executed game by the Mustangs in front of 11,856people, Saturday’s game against the Rice Owls extended theMustangs’ losing streak to 11 games. SMU and Army are theonly two winless teams in NCAA Division I football.
The Mustangs won the toss and possession at the start of thegame, but the Mustang offense, led by quarterback Chris Phillips inhis fourth start, could not string together much output.
On Rice’s third offensive play, Rice quarterback Kyle Hermconnected with Ben Wiggins for an 82-yard touchdown strike.
The Mustangs failed to score in the first quarter, while theOwls added a field goal to go up 10-0 at the end of the firstquarter.
In the second quarter, Brennan connected with Wiggins again,this time for a 43-yard touchdown to give the Owls a 17-0 lead.
The Mustangs narrowed the score to 7-17 with a Phillips 47-yardpass to Keylon Kincade.
Neither team scored again in the half, leaving the Mustangswondering what to do about Rice’s air strikes.
On the Owls’ first possession of the third quarter, RobbieBeck led the attack from the ground, breaking open a gap in theMustang defense for a 38-yard touchdown run.
Later in the quarter, the Mustangs’ Blake Warren returneda punt for a 63-yard touchdown that cut the Owls’ lead to11.
Rice responded with another touchdown late in the third quarterto take a 31-13 lead into the fourth quarter.
Backup quarterback Tate Wallis replaced Phillips on theMustangs’ next possession. With the Mustangs inside theOwls’ red zone, Wallis’ pass was picked off, givingRice the ball.
The Owls took advantage of the interception with a field goal togo ahead 34-13.
With Phillips back in at quarterback on the next drive, theMustangs drove 71 yards in 10 plays complemented by a 7-yardPhillips pass to Derron Brown to narrow the score to 34-20.
The Owls’ next possession proved to be the nail in thecoffin as the team scored its final touchdown, bringing its lead to41-20.
The Owls accumulated 300 rushing yards with eight differentrushers, while the Mustangs had 137 yards among Kincaide, Phillipsand Wallis.
Owl receiver Wiggins had a career day with three catches for 168yards and two touchdowns.
SMU quarterback Phillips had his best game, completing 16-of-24for 175 yards while Owl quarterback Herm was 4-of-7 for 157yards.
The Mustangs next take on the undefeated TCU Horned Frogs in thebattle for the Iron Skillet. The Horned Frogs are currently eighthin the Bowl Championship Series standings.
“A win against TCU would salvage our season especiallysince the game is against our biggest rival,” defensive endDon Ieremia-Stansbury said.
