SMU Mustangs vs. Arkansas State Football Preview

Mustangs look for 2nd straight victory

Date: Saturday, September 15, 2007, 6 pm Central

Cornerback Jonathan Lindley, left, defends North Texas' Casey Fitzgerald.

Location: Indian Stadium, Jonesboro, Ark. (30,406)

Television: KTXA-TV Channel 21 (Dallas); XOS Webcasting (ASUIndians.com)

Season Records: SMU 1-1, 0-0 C-USA, ASU 0-1, 0-0 Sun Belt

The Series: SMU leads, 1-0, winning last year in Dallas, 55-9.

Injury/Personnel Report

SMU: Defensive tackle Charlie Berry (stinger), running back Cedrick Dorsey, (deep thigh bruise) - day-to-day.

ASU: no info

SMU vs. Arkansas State Overview

After getting by North Texas, 45-31, last week, SMU will now tread where no Mustang has trod: the rice and soy bean fields of northeast Arkansas. There - in Jonesboro, population 60,000 - SMU will meet up again with the Arkansas State Indians.

But, they won’t be Indians for long.

To toe the NCAA’s new line on mascots, ASU’s Mascot Review Committee recently recommended scrapping “Indians” for a new, improved mascot for the 2008 season.

One more note: The University of Arkansas and ASU never play each other. In fact, U of A won’t play any in-state opponent. While Texas schools bash each others’ brains in – even look forward to it – Razorback sensibilities are evidently more delicate.

See, if ASU were to beat Arkansas - the state’s premier sports entity - proud Arkansans from Evening Shade to Arkadelphia would suffer grievous national embarrassment, especially Frank Broyles. After all, corn cob jelly festivals are big, but the Razorbacks are bigger.

Conversely, if Arkansas were to pound the rice and soy beans out of ASU, they’d be seen as bullies and Jonesboro folks might not ever send their boys to Fayetteville. So it’s a lose-lose deal.

Kidding aside, ASU is no joke. These guys gave Texas all they wanted in Austin two weeks ago before falling, 21-13. The Indians topped the ‘Horns in first downs, rushing yards, passing yards and time of possession – about everything but the final score.

Except for a blown call by the Big 12 crew on an onside kick, ASU might have sent the thing to overtime.

“We have a lot of respect for ASU,” said SMU head coach Phil Bennett on Tuesday. “Last year, we got hot, made some plays.”

As for the North Texas game, Bennett said, “I thought our players, after a short week, showed a lot of character. It took us too long to get started. It was a humid night. I thought it affected us early. We were sloppy.”

SMU was torched for 601 yards passing by North Texas’ Daniel Meager. Still, Bennett reminded, the Mustangs nabbed three interceptions, including one for a touchdown. “They made the plays when we had to have them,” he said.

Bennett (18-42) and ASU head coach Steve Roberts (26-36) are both in their sixth year at their respective schools. The Indians won the Sun Belt title in 2005 and played in the New Orleans Bowl.

ASU’s scheduled home-opener against Memphis last week was postponed due to lightning.

An uneasy reminder: SMU was 1-5 on the road last year.

SMU Offense vs. Arkansas State Defense

Advantage: SMU

Quarterback Justin Willis had a career day passing against North Texas with 353 yards on 30 of 42 attempts, with two touchdowns. He also rushed 10 times for 82 yards and now leads the team in rushing with 122 yards.

DeMyron Martin scored his first touchdown since 2005 on a one-yard plunge, giving SMU its first lead of the season. He finished with 54 yards on 11 carries.

James Mapps had two rushing touchdowns, one a 29-yarder that put SMU up, 31-17, in the third quarter. Mapps had 10 carries for 46 yards.

Like Tech, ASU’s experienced secondary is the strength of its defense. The starting corners are seniors Montis Harrison and Darren Toney. Senior safety Tyrell Johnson, a four-year starter, had 14 tackles and one pick at Texas.

Koby McKinnon, with 11 tackles, is the only returning linebacker.

Up front, senior tackle Prince Hickman (6-1, 289) brings the most experience.

ASU held Texas to 117 yards rushing and 223 passing.

Arkansas State Offense vs. SMU Defense

Advantage: ASU

Was Bennett alarmed by the passing yards given up to North Texas? “Absolutely,” he said. “I didn’t like it. But I also know the situation. These guys had 128 balls thrown at them in the same week. There was fatigue. There were cramps.”

“We lost our edge a little bit. And there were too many mental busts.”

Ready or not, here comes ASU sophomore quarterback Corey Leonard, who had a career passing day at Texas, tallying 259 yards on 23 completions.

Eric Dickerson, left, holds court with his 1982 SMU teammates at halftime last Saturday. At right is Blane Smith. To his right is Wes Hopkins.

“He’s active,” Bennett said. “He’s a kid that stays alive, a little bit like Justin.” Leonard also rushed 16 times for 37 yards.

SMU ranks 119 th nationally in passing yards allowed - 537 yards per game. Bennett said pass efficiency defense, which looks at attempts-to-completions and other factors, is a better yardstick. There, SMU is slightly better, at 106 th. Bennett added, if a team plays good red-zone and pass efficiency defense, and controls the run, “you’ve got a chance.”

Saturday’s problems, he said, were not due only to secondary play, but a combination of things, including a lack of pressure on the quarterback.

Cornerback Jonathan Lindley’s timely interception in the end zone Saturday came one play after SMU had fumbled. Bryce Hudman’s pick, returned for a touchdown, put the game away. Bryan McCann had the Mustangs’ other interception.

Defensive end Cory Muse is still recovering from the effects of a groin strain. “He’s still not himself,” Bennett said. “His issue right now is conditioning.”

ASU sophomore Reggie Arnold (5-9, 220), a 1,000-yard rusher from a year ago, had 68 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown at Texas. He could be a headache for SMU, though the Mustangs currently allow just 46 yards a game, (14 th nationally.)

SMU wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders gets first half instruction. Sanders caught his first touchdown of the year against North Texas.

Levi Dejohnette led the Indians with six catches for 92 yards at Texas, with a long of 50. Redshirt freshman Preston Brown caught five for 48 yards.

ASU’s O-line is anchored by a couple of conspicuous tackles: 6-3, 347-pound junior Matt Mandich and 6-6, 347-pound senior Vincent Thrower.

SMU vs. Arkansas State Special Teams

Advantage: SMU

SMU’s Thomas Morstead has a weapons-grade leg.

He leads the nation in punting with a 51.3-yard average and launched a 72-yard satellite against North Texas, for Ray Guy’s sake! Morstead is also 4-4 in field goal kicking and a perfect 6-6 in PATs. His 40 consecutive PATs - and counting - is an SMU record.

ASU punter Brett Shrable’s average is 35.3 yards on three tries. Placekicker Josh Arauco is 2-4 on field goals, including a career-long 45-yarder.

ASU’s Toney averaged 20.3 per kickoff return against Texas. Jessie Henderson, nailed early a couple of times last week, still has a 26-yard average for SMU.

Mustang punt returner Sanders has a five-yard average. ASU has not yet returned a punt.

Intangibles

Advantage: ASU

The Indians are still smarting from last year’s 46-point bruising in Dallas. The Jonesboro Sun newspaper reported that ASU opened its preparation Sunday by watching tape from that game.

They’ve had a week off and are rested and healed. The home-opener crowd should be plenty loud.

SMU vs. Arkansas State Prediction

If you thought the fourth quarter against North Texas was sporty, this one could have an even higher pucker quotient.

ASU’s Leonard gets 250+ yards passing and Arnold rushes for 80+.

For SMU, Sanders has a breakout game and Martin hits the century mark for the first time since last year’s finale at Rice.

SMU pulls away with a late touchdown, 29-20.

Quotable Bennett

• On defense: “I don’t like to blitz as much as we’re having to, to get off the field.”

• On possible complacency, after thumping ASU last year: “Were you at the same game I was at [against North Texas]?”

SMU Football - Did you know?

• ASU is picked third in the Sun Belt behind Troy and Middle Tennessee State, according to conference coaches.

• Former Dallas Cowboys scouting director Larry Lacewell coached ASU 11 eleven seasons, from 1979-89.

• ASU’s 2006 home attendance average was 17,882. SMU’s: 15,428.