Game Report: TCU 38, SMU 10

[PonyPride]

Errors plague Ponies again in loss to TCU
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The season is just two games old, and already the SMU football team has found a formula to follow. For the second week in a row, the Mustangs' defense played hard and kept the Ponies in the game, while the offense struggled early before committing mistakes that allowed the opposition to walk away with a lopsided victory, this time a 38-10 defeat at the hands of the TCU Horned Frogs.

For most of the first half, SMU (0-2 overall, 0-1 against Western Athletic Conference teams) was in this game. After TCU kicker Nick Browne opened the scoring less than four minutes into the game with a 40-yard field goal, SMU got the tying score when Jacob Crowley boomed a 48-yarder of his own.

Then, in the second quarter, the Ponies took the lead -- only to see it yanked away from them because of the first of many errors. Quarterback Kelan Luker found former Stephenville High School teammate Cody Cardwell streaking through a seam in the TCU defense and hit him with a pass that Cardwell caught before outrunning TCU safety Charlie Owens to the end zone on a would-be 52-yard touchdown. But the play was called back when offensive tackle Joey Slaten was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul on the play, a turn events that seemed to take the wind out of the proverbial sails for the Mustangs, who had been fighting to a draw with their heavily favored rivals from Fort Worth.

TCU took advantage of the emotional swing. With 4:11 left in the half, tailback Ricky Madison, who rushed for a game-high 65 yards on 16 carries, raced into the end zone on a 7-yard touchdown to put the Frogs up, 10-3. Less than a minute later, Luker completed a pass along the right sideline to tight end John Hampton -- who fumbled. Owens made up for getting beaten on Cardwell's non-touchdown, swooping in and scooping up the ball, racing 36 yards for a score to give TCU a 17-3 halftime lead.

The TCU defense -- which was ranked No. 1 in the country last year and now has turned in three straight exceptional performances against Nebraska, North Texas and SMU -- continued its barrage in the second half. On the Mustangs' first play from scrimmage, Luker was crushed by three TCU defenders and fumbled. TCU defensive end Joe Hill lunged for the ball, kicking it toward the SMU end zone, before middle linebacker LeMarcus McDonald pounced on it at the 1-yard line and piled into the end zone for the Frogs' second defensive score.

TCU added to the onslaught on its next position. Quarterback Casey Printers faked a pitch to Madison before tossing instead to wide receiver LaTarence Dunbar who was running an end-around in the opposite direction. Dunbar raced 19 yards to the SMU 3, and on the next play lined up in the backfield, where he took a quick handoff and sprinted untouched into the end zone for the score, making the score 31-3 with 9:12 left in the third quarter.

Just over a minute later, Luker threw behind wide receiver Chris Cunningham, only to be picked off by Owens, who raced down the left sideline before getting stopped at the SMU 1. A play later, reserve tailback Andrew Hayes-Stoker plunged in to make the score 38-10.

After that, SMU head coach Mike Cavan pulled Luker -- who finished the day completing 7-of-19 passes (his first three passes were dropped, all of which appeared catchable) for 50 yards and an interception -- and replaced him with David Page, who offered a spark to the offense. Page's mobility and escape instincts allowed him to move the ball -- he completed 7-of-11 passes for 59 yards and turned in a 19-yard scramble. On third down at the TCU 2, Page sprinted to his right to evade the oncoming rush, and just as he was being pounded to the turf, flung the ball toward the back of the end zone to Cunningham for the Mustangs' first touchdown of the season.

The offensive line, which last week drew praise for its performance against Louisiana Tech, was pourous against the stellar TCU defense, making Luker and Page run for their lives and opening few holes for SMU running backs Keylon Kincade (who ran for 18 yards on nine carries) and Kris Briggs, who finished the day with 10 carries for 15 yards.

Bright spots included linebacker Brian Bischoff's first career interception off a tipped Printers pass, and defensive end Johnson Patman's fumble recovery. But the turnovers and penalties remained an obstacle too large for SMU to overcome.

[Guest]

How depressing.
I hate everything about TCU, and always will.
I need a drink. Or maybe 12.

[TCUSA]

Good game Mustangs. Keep the faith. Help is on the way...

[Webmaster]

Don't forget to check the <B>2001 PonyFans.com Football Information Guide</B> for game wraps, game previews, and links.

<A HREF="http://www.ponyfans.com/fb2001.htm" TARGET=_blank>Click here</A> to go to the guide to read about the TCU game and the upcoming UNC game.


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[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 09-09-2001).]