SMU head coach June Jones once said the best part about winning on the road is stopping for donuts on the way out of town.

After battling to a 45-38 overtime win at East Carolina that clinched the Conference USA West Division Title, the Mustangs stopped at Krispy Kreme before getting out of town.

Zach Line has rushed for 1,297 yards this season — the third-highest single-season total in SMU history (photo by Travis Johnston).

“They were extra-tasty this time,” sophomore running back Zach Line said after he and his teammates returned to campus late Friday night after he rushed for 123 and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime, to help the Ponies wear down ECU. The touchdowns gave him 10 for the season, and 17 in his SMU career, while the 123 yards raised his total this year to 1,297 — the third-highest single-season total in SMU history.

The Mustangs entered the game already eligible for their second bowl invitation in as many years after SMU knocked off Marshall last week. But there was no assurance that six wins would guarantee an invitation. After the victory, Line said, the Mustangs cut loose in the locker room.

“We’re always pretty rowdy after a win,” he said. “Today, we were really loud, jumping around a lot and yelling. There’s a really high level of camaraderie on this team. We’re a really close team, and after a win, especially a win like this, it just feels really good.”

With the victory over the Pirates, SMU earned its first trip to the Conference USA championship game, in which the Ponies will take on East Division champion Central Florida next Saturday.

“We’re thrilled to be going to Orlando, because UCF is the team to beat,” Line said. “Going to their place to face the best team in the East Division — that makes Orlando the place to be.

“There was something at stake today, and we came away with the win. We have worked our tails off to get to this point, and it paid off.”