Looking for its first win of the season, the Mustang footballteam (0-5) will head to sunny California to face the San Jose StateSpartans (1-4). While disappointed in last week’s close lossto UTEP, the team is positive and focusing on their goals. OneMustang in particular remembers the last trip out to the BayArea.
“Two years ago, we were in the same situation, and when wewent out to San Jose, we got a win,” senior cornerback JonasRutledge said.
Rutledge was honored as the WAC Special Teams Player of the Weekafter setting a school record with 190 kickoff return yards in lastweek’s game. Rutledge’s effort put him in possession offirst place on SMU’s all-time career kickoff return leaderslist with 1,736 yards. He also ranked 11th nationally in kickreturns with a 30.3-yard average.
“I would have preferred the win,” Rutledge said,”but the award was an honor.”
The Mustangs have a chance to ruin San Jose State’shomecoming with a win on Saturday against the Spartans, who arealso looking for their first win in WAC play. To do this, theMustangs will have to slow down San Jose State’s returnthreat, Kendrick Starling, who, like Rutledge, is one of the topreturn men in the nation.
“We’ll have to be sound in all aspects of our game:offense, defense and special teams. We’ll have to be focused,too, but I think we’ll be ready,” Rutledge said. HeadCoach Phil Bennett agrees.
“[San Jose State] has a lot of firepower on offense, andthey are playing at home. It’s going to be a challenge forus,” Bennett said in his weekly press conference Monday.While SJSU’s offense can get hot, one thing that could bepositive for the Ponies is that the Spartan defense is allowing33.2 points per game. Hopefully, this stat can help the Mustangoffense get on track.
They have scored only 56 points this year. Senior tailbackKeylon Kincade, who now sits in eighth place on SMU’s careerrushing list with 2,287 career yards, will lead the ‘Stangsinto Spartan Stadium hoping to add to this total and get a win inthe process. Bennett confirmed at Monday’s press conferencethat sophomore quarterback Richard Bartel will be under center.With a win Saturday night, the Mustangs would move closer to theirmain goal of competing in the WAC and winning the WAC title. Eventhough the Mustangs are winless , Bennett feels positive aboutachieving these goals, despite some criticism.
“Regardless of what some people think, we are not far frombeing a team that can contend in this league,” Bennettsaid.
