Postgame notes
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:50 pmSMU Postgame Notes – September 5, 2009
SMU 31 (1-0), Stephen F. Austin 23 (0-1)
TEAM
The 34,749 tickets sold for tonight’s game is a Gerald J. Ford Stadium record, surpassing the previous mark of 34,689 from the 2004 game against Texas Tech.
Mustangs win the season-opener for the first time since 2000.
Shawnbrey McNeal had 158 yards rushing; the first 150-yard rusher for SMU since DeMyron Martin had 171 against Rice in 2005; the first 100-yard rusher for SMU since Justin Willis had 114 at Memphis in 2007.
Emmanuel Sanders 79 yard punt return for a TD was the first for SMU since Blake Warren scored from 63 yards out against Rice in 2003. It was also the 10th longest at SMU.
Rock Dennis had two interceptions. He is the first Mustang with two picks in a game since Bryan McCann against Tulsa in 2008.
The Mustangs forced six turnovers – 5 interceptions and 1 fumble.
- The five interceptions for the Mustangs are the most since eight picks against Arkansas in 1951.
Matt Szymanski's 53-yard field goal tied for the third-longest in SMU history.
INDIVIDUAL
Chris Banjo
– Had 10 tackles, one off his career-high.
– Had his first career forced fumble
Rock Dennis
- Had his second and third career interceptions; he is the first Mustang with two picks in a game since Bryan McCann against Tulsa in 2008.
- Had his first career fumble recovery
Marquis Frazier - Had his first career interception
Darius Johnson - First career TD reception
Chase Kennemer
- Got his first career sack.
- Had a career-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss
Bryan McCann - Had his ninth career interception
Shawnbrey McNeal
- Had a career-high 158 yards rushing on 19 carries for an 8.3 average
- The first 150-yard rusher for SMU since DeMyron Martin had 171 against Rice in 2005; the first 100-yard rusher for SMU since Justin Willis had 114 at Memphis in 2007.
- His 49-yard TD run is a career long.
- The TD run was the fourth of his career and first at SMU
Bo Levi Mitchell
- Pass to Darius Johnson with 2:45 left in the second quarter was his 25th career passing TD
- The rushing TD was the second of his career
- With 202 passing yards, he now has 3067 yards to become the 11th SMU quarterback to surpass 3000 career yards
Sterling Moore - Had his first career interception
Emmanuel Sanders
- His 79 yard punt return for a TD was his first and the first for SMU since Blake Warren scored from 63 yards out against Rice in 2003. It was also the 10th longest at SMU.
- He now has 168 points, moving into 10th at SMU
- Now has 195 career receptions, moving into 10th in Conference USA history. He is currently second at SMU (Jason Wolf, 235 from 1989-92)
Matt Szymanski's
- 4-4 on PATs and 1-1 FG
- His 53-yard field goal tied for the third-longest in SMU history
SMU 31 (1-0), Stephen F. Austin 23 (0-1)
TEAM
The 34,749 tickets sold for tonight’s game is a Gerald J. Ford Stadium record, surpassing the previous mark of 34,689 from the 2004 game against Texas Tech.
Mustangs win the season-opener for the first time since 2000.
Shawnbrey McNeal had 158 yards rushing; the first 150-yard rusher for SMU since DeMyron Martin had 171 against Rice in 2005; the first 100-yard rusher for SMU since Justin Willis had 114 at Memphis in 2007.
Emmanuel Sanders 79 yard punt return for a TD was the first for SMU since Blake Warren scored from 63 yards out against Rice in 2003. It was also the 10th longest at SMU.
Rock Dennis had two interceptions. He is the first Mustang with two picks in a game since Bryan McCann against Tulsa in 2008.
The Mustangs forced six turnovers – 5 interceptions and 1 fumble.
- The five interceptions for the Mustangs are the most since eight picks against Arkansas in 1951.
Matt Szymanski's 53-yard field goal tied for the third-longest in SMU history.
INDIVIDUAL
Chris Banjo
– Had 10 tackles, one off his career-high.
– Had his first career forced fumble
Rock Dennis
- Had his second and third career interceptions; he is the first Mustang with two picks in a game since Bryan McCann against Tulsa in 2008.
- Had his first career fumble recovery
Marquis Frazier - Had his first career interception
Darius Johnson - First career TD reception
Chase Kennemer
- Got his first career sack.
- Had a career-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss
Bryan McCann - Had his ninth career interception
Shawnbrey McNeal
- Had a career-high 158 yards rushing on 19 carries for an 8.3 average
- The first 150-yard rusher for SMU since DeMyron Martin had 171 against Rice in 2005; the first 100-yard rusher for SMU since Justin Willis had 114 at Memphis in 2007.
- His 49-yard TD run is a career long.
- The TD run was the fourth of his career and first at SMU
Bo Levi Mitchell
- Pass to Darius Johnson with 2:45 left in the second quarter was his 25th career passing TD
- The rushing TD was the second of his career
- With 202 passing yards, he now has 3067 yards to become the 11th SMU quarterback to surpass 3000 career yards
Sterling Moore - Had his first career interception
Emmanuel Sanders
- His 79 yard punt return for a TD was his first and the first for SMU since Blake Warren scored from 63 yards out against Rice in 2003. It was also the 10th longest at SMU.
- He now has 168 points, moving into 10th at SMU
- Now has 195 career receptions, moving into 10th in Conference USA history. He is currently second at SMU (Jason Wolf, 235 from 1989-92)
Matt Szymanski's
- 4-4 on PATs and 1-1 FG
- His 53-yard field goal tied for the third-longest in SMU history