SMU Turnovers, Penalties, Dropped Passes Kill Any Chance At Houston
By Rick Atkinson for cusa-fans.com
http://www.cusa-fans.com/
HOUSTON – It was big night for downtown Houston area 7-Elevens on Saturday as Cougar fans poured in for burritos and Mountain Dew to celebrate the No. 17 Coogs’ 38-15 Homecoming win over SMU (3-4, 2-1).
Miscues killed the Mustangs - and they began on the game’s first play. Bryan McCann’s opening kickoff return for a touchdown was erased by a holding call and things quickly went downhill from there.
Houston led 17-0 early in the second quarter and 24-3 at the half.
Any real hope SMU had of a comeback ended when Tyron Carrier opened the second-half with a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. (Mustang fans may recall that Carrier caught the game-winner at SMU last year, with 24 frickin’ seconds left.)
But file this under if you told me that before the game, SMU wins:
*SMU out-gained Houston in total offense, 397-394, playing two backup quarterbacks after starter Bo Levi Mitchell left the game with a separated shoulder.
*The Mustangs held quarterback Case Keenum and the vaulted Cougar offense to less than 500 total yards for the first time this season.
*Keenum threw for 233 yards, his lowest output in ’09, and was sacked four times after taking just five sacks in six previous games.
“It doesn’t matter when you get fewer points, unfortunately,†said SMU coach June Jones of the stats.
“We had chances to make big plays in the first half and we didn’t catch the ball very well,†he said. “It’s frustrating because you come ready to play, everybody’s ready to play, and we just didn’t make the plays.â€
“But I was proud how they fought and hung in through a lot of adversity,†Jones said. “They didn’t quit and just kept battling.â€
SMU was 0-10 on third-down conversions. “You’ve got to throw and catch,†Jones said, “and, unfortunately, we’re not doing that right now.â€
No UH Turnovers
The Coogs (6-1, 2-1) took care of the ball. And SMU didn’t.
The Mustangs lost two fumbles in the first quarter, resulting in fourteen Houston points – one at their own one-yard-line. Another in the third - at Houston’s two - cost SMU a near-sure touchdown.
Throw in McCann’s cancelled kickoff return and Emmanuel Sanders' overturned touchdown catch in the second quarter, and there’s a 31-point swing, gentle fans.
By the way, the replay booth, manned by UH’s 2009 Homecoming Queen, (OK, kidding), went 3-3 against SMU on the night.
With Mitchell gone in the first quarter, Jones rotated in true freshman Kyle Padron (6-4, 201) and redshirt freshman Braden Smith (6-0, 182).
Padron hit 11 of 16 passes for 141 yards with no picks. His first career touchdown pass, a 32-yarder to Aldrick Robinson in the fourth quarter, drew SMU to within 31-15 with 9:48 left to play.
Padron was sacked three times.
“It’s always hard to see somebody get hurt,†Padron said. “Bo is a great leader for our team and it’s unfortunate he had to go down. But Braden and I were ready to go.â€
“The speed of the game is probably the biggest difference I noticed,†Padron said of his first collegiate action. “You can’t really simulate a game in practice.â€
Padron ripped off an 18-yard run in the fourth quarter. “Our line did really well," he said. "They protected me and I got to make some plays with my feet, which I was proud of.â€
Padron said he has no reservations about losing his redshirt year of eligibility. “Not at all,†he said. “Coach Jones has a plan and I believe in it firmly.â€
The running threat Smith carried eight times for 68 yards, with a long of 25. “We were great up front,†Smith said. “Bryce Tennison had some great blocks. I followed him a couple of times. The offensive line opened up holes and I just followed them.â€
Smith also threw a nice 17-yard out to Sanders in the second quarter.
“We both prepared all week and we just went out there and tried to help the team,†Smith said.
“Our defense has played great all year,†Smith said. “I think they played a great game [tonight.] So we’ve got confidence in them. We know, offensively, we’ve got a chance to score points just a long as we don’t beat ourselves.â€
Kyle Padron confers with June Jones as Braden Smith waits his turn.
'Both Competed'
Jones said it was challenge working with two new quarterbacks, “just calling plays and getting the formations right.â€
“But, hey, both kids competed,†he said. “We just have to find a way to win. They’re going to have to get better if they’re going to play.â€
Jones said he’d been planning to use both quarterbacks if Mitchell went down.
“I had been thinking about it, because you kind of go through that scenario. … I had some plays scripted that Braden was going to use for the last four or five weeks if he was in and some things that Kyle was going to do if he was in.â€
Linebacker Chase Kennemer led SMU with 12 tackles.
“I was proud of how [the defense] played,†Jones said. “We knew they were going to be tough to defend. They kept running the ball, getting the edges on us. They have big ol’ linemen that just kind of lean on you.â€
Houston’s Charles Sims led all rushers with 105 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
So how does Jones keep this latest adversity – SMU’s fourth loss in five games - from dragging down the team? “Well, that’s why I get paid the big money,†he said. “As the coach, you have to understand we’re still in first place in Conference USA [West] and that was one game.â€
This Week
Tulsa’s Golden Hurricane (4-3, 2-1), up next for SMU, sits atop the West standings with the Mustangs, Houston and UTEP.
It won’t be easy for SMU’s offense to get untracked against Tulsa’s defense, ranked second in C-USA. The ‘Cane allow 19.6 points and 332 yards per game.
Tulsa has the third most sacks in the league (17), but has also given up more sacks than any other C-USA team (28).
Quarterback G.J. Kinne, fourth in the league in passing yards per game (212), has been intercepted just twice.
The ‘Cane rallied at UTEP last Wednesday before falling, 28-24. Kinne passed for 192 yards and scored one rushing touchdown. Slick Shelley had five catches for 98 yards for Tulsa and Charles Clay had a season-high 158 total yards.
Tulsa’s offense ranks No. 3 in C-USA, just ahead of SMU, and its rushing game averages 60 yards per game more than the Mustangs.
Prediction: The wind’s gonna blow – just enough. Tulsa, 26-20.
Notes:*
Emmanuel Sanders, with six catches for 47 yards at Houston, now has 628 yards on the season and is SMU’s first four-time 600-yard receiver.
*Bo Levi Mitchell’s status for Saturday’s game at Tulsa is uncertain.
*SMU greats Jerry LeVias (1966-68) and Jerry Ball (1982-86) spoke to the Mustangs on Friday night at the team hotel in Houston.
Shawnbrey McNeal rushed for 95 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries
Marquis Frazier (99) and Taylor Thompson sack Case Keenum
Emmanuel Sanders' overruled touchdown pass from Braden Smith
