DMN: Mustangs Make It Two-in-a-Row - Calvin Watkins Absent

[MrMustang1965]

hmmmm....where's Calvin Watkins?

By CATHY HARASTA / The Dallas Morning News

UNIVERSITY PARK – In just his second game at linebacker, SMU junior Alvin Nnabuife scored two touchdowns in one quarter – including a school-record 95-yard fumble return – as the Mustangs beat Nevada, 38-20, on Saturday for their second consecutive victory.

Nnabuife, a former safety who had scored only once in his career, became the first SMU player to score two touchdowns on fumble recoveries in a game.

SMU, propelled by a 28-point third quarter, hadn't won back-to-back home games since 2000. The victory gave the Mustangs a 3-2 record at home this season.

Nevada came in on a roll, but left rocked by an SMU team determined to close out its home season with a victory.

The Wolf Pack brought a three-game winning streak to Gerald J. Ford Stadium. But the Mustangs turned the third quarter into a scoring fest, scoring three touchdowns within two minutes to go up, 31-13. Nnaabuife's second fumble recovery returned for a touchdown gave SMU a 38-20 lead late in the quarter.

SMU, coming off a 41-35 overtime victory over Tulsa, scored on its first two possessions and led at halftime, 10-6.

Quarterback Tony Eckert's 38-yard touchdown to Cedrick Dorsey followed a 21-yard pass to Reynaldo Pellerin. Chris McMurtray's 42-yard field goal with 5:17 left in the first quarter gave SMU a 10-3 lead.

Damon Fine had first-half field goals from 33 and 26 yards for Nevada, which was out of timeouts when the half ended, preventing a another field-goal attempt.

Eckert, the starter, alternated at quarterback with Jerad Romo, who scored the third-quarter touchdown that gave SMU a 17-13 lead. He then scrambled 15 yards to the 1 to set up Foy Munlin's rushing touchdown. Nnabuife completed the touchdown trifecta with his 17-yard return of a recovered fumble with 9:46 left in the third.

Nevada, which had been averaging 33.1 points per game, appeared ready to make a run when linebacker Kevin Porter recovered an Eckert fumble to open the second half. The Wolf Pack took its first lead, 13-10, on Nichiren Flowers' 18-yard touchdown reception.

Nevada left little to Chance Kretschmer, the Wolf Pack's senior running back who was hobbled by a sprained ankle.

Junior B.J. Mitchell started in place of Kretschmer, who played sparingly. Mitchell couldn't convert on a fourth-and-2 at SMU's 41 with 11 minutes left in the first quarter.

Nevada quarterback Jeff Rowe completed 16 of 20 attempts for 202 yards in the first half.

[PK]

I'm sure Calvin covers the beat he is told to cover. Most employees do what they are told to do. BTW, welcome back Mr. Mustang...try to be generous and give Calvin some slack.

[MrMustang1965]

Generosity is my middle name!

[BleedingRed+Blue]

I was told Calvin's wife had a baby. Congratulations - and come on back. You do a good job covering the Ponies!

[SCAMP6381]

CONGRATS ON THE NEW BABY!!!!!! OOOOOOHHHHH CALVIN YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FELLA, MUSTANGS KICKED BUTT