Kate @ DMN 11/20: Starved for turnovers......

[ponyscott]

From Kate and the DMN:


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... cf59b.html

Starved for turnovers, SMU defense comes up with three interceptions

09:35 PM CST on Saturday, November 20, 2010
By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
UNIVERSITY PARK – SMU coach June Jones has been harping on the Mustangs' lack of defensive takeaways for weeks. SMU didn't record any in their last three losses.

But the Mustangs, who entered Saturday's game tied for 114th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in turnover margin, snagged three interceptions in their win over Marshall.

Cornerback Richard Crawford snagged two, safety Chris Banjo the other. SMU was boosted by the return of senior cornerback Sterling Moore. Crawford, tested by Marshall because of Moore's presence, responded, too.

SMU defensive coordinator Tom Mason's defense shut down the run in the first half as the Mustangs built a lead, forcing Marshall to pass in the second half. Quarterback Brian Anderson was 24-of-42 for 277 yards, one touchdown and the three picks.

"We've been talking about how we haven't played to our potential, and I still don't feel like we have," Banjo said. "But this was a really important game for us."

Exploiting the run: Marshall had been fierce against the run during its three-game winning streak, which ended Saturday, giving up 87 yards or fewer on the ground each game. But SMU gashed the Thundering Herd, including with draws up the middle. Running back Zach Line, who had 202 yards to bring his season total to 1,174, said Marshall's defense didn't shift much to adjust to what SMU was doing.

Line's 1,000-yard season is the 14th by an SMU player and the second for June Jones as a college coach. Shawnbrey McNeal rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season.

Briefly: Jones spent much of Saturday thinking about Colt Brennan, his former record-setting quarterback at Hawaii , who was in a serious car accident Friday in Hawaii. Jones had been in touch with doctors and friends in Hawaii concerning Brennan's condition. ... New Orleans Bowl officials were in attendance. ... Kenneth Acker's 62-yard return on the game's opening kickoff helped set up SMU's first touchdown.

East Carolina, which SMU needs to beat in the season finale next week for a clear path to the C-USA title game, lost, 62-38, Saturday to Rice. ... Receiver Aldrick Robinson has 1,053 yards this season. It's the fifth 1,000-yard season at SMU. He is the only Mustang to do it twice; he had 1,047 yards in 2009.

[Mitch McConnell]

AR has had a very bizarre 1,000 yard season.