By JORDAN JENNINGS
Sports Editor
The SMU Mustangs head to Houston this weekend for conference play against the Rice Owls on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.
This is the Owls’ first Conference USA game of the season. Currently Rice has a 1-3 start this year.
Earlier this season Rice lost to No. 5 University of Texas and Northwestern University. Their only win this season was to North Texas 32-31 on Sept. 11.
Last weekend, Rice was devastated 30-13 by the Baylor Bears at Rice Stadium. However, Coach David Bailiff says he believes the Owls will turn the corner soon.
In Dallas, the Mustang fans filled Gerald J. Ford Stadium last weekend to witness what would be an action-packed game. TCU Horned Frogs were spared from frying, but definitely felt the heat of the flame after the Mustangs scored 24 points on TCU’s dominate defense.
The Ponies are currently 2-2, including a C-USA game win over UAB on Sept. 11, 28-7.It is the second away-game this year for the Mustangs, after three consecutive games at Ford Stadium. SMU’s two losses were to Texas Tech and TCU.Rice Owls have a 10 game home winning streak against SMU since 1986; however, SMU defeated Rice in 2009 at Ford Stadium 31-28.
SMU quarterback Kyle Padron has been completing only 51.4 percent of his passes this year, down more than 15 percent compared to 2009.
Padron was 14 of 35 for 169 yards and two touchdowns and an interception against TCU last weekend. He currently has 10 touchdowns with four interceptions on the season.
The Mustang defensive will face Rice quarterback Nick Fanuzzi, who took over Taylor McHargue after the Owls’ first game of the season against No. 5 Texas. Fanuzzi hit receivers on 27 of 38 passes for 204 yards against Baylor last weekend.
Rice’s standout sophomore is runningback Sam McGuffie, who recently transferred from Michigan.
McGuffie rushed for a season-high of 64 yards last weekend. He also has 48 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown. SMU runningback Zach Line ran for 139 yards last game, including a 29-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against TCU. He currently averages 7.8 yards a carry and has 415 yards rushing with four touchdowns this year.
The Mustangs will return to the Hilltop on Oct. 9 to faceoff the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
