2008 Week 6

SMU has made their second big upset this year, this time against #24 UCF. Can the streak survive? and how long? Here is Jerrod Owens, filling in for Bob Smith, with the story.

Coming into their second game against a ranked oppenet this year SMU was 4-1. UCF was 4-0. Mostly everyone had picked UCF to win this game, being at home and fielding what most thought was a better team. But Coach Jacob Roberts and his SMU Mustangs is proving those "better teams" wrong.

The first quarter showed only one bit of action with SS Tyler Jones returning a Greco pass 39 yards to the house. This would be UCF's first pick 6 this game, and it would not be the last. Other points of interest this quarter was UCF's Phillip Smith fumbling the football, leaving the score 7-0 SMU.

When the Mustangs got the ball in the second quarter, the first thing they did was drive down the field and get a TD, by way of a nice pass from Rhodes leading Jessie Henderson who caught the ball then spun to avoid a defender and ran in untouched. The next time SMU got the ball, they again drove down the field and scored on a 21 yard option pitch run by Demyron Martin. After this Greco was intercepted again, this time by Jason Jackson. UCF would not let this go easily though, the next play being an interception by UCF's C. Houge. UCF got the ball again but was intercepted again, this time by CB David Haynes as time expired in the 2nd half, leaving the score 21-0 SMU.

SMU's first drive in the 3rd quarter would not be nearly as sucessful as the one in the 2nd. They were driving as usual but a INT by CB Joe Burnett off of a tip was returned 74 yards to the endzone, ending chances of an SMU shutout, and making the score for the 3rd 21-7 SMU. This would be the only quarter in which SMU was shutout, and in the 4th, they would redeem themselves.

In the fourth quarter SMU would have 4 TDs, UCF would have one, from a drive from their first team against SMU's second. SMU's second play in the 4th quarter was a 19 yard scramble from Zach Rhodes to the corner of the endzone, setting the pace for the last quarter of play. Next UCF's backup QB Joe Weatherford was picked off by CB Deyon McElroy for a 76 yard pick 6. Then McElroy did the unbelievable: had another pick 6, this time returning a Greco pass 66 yards to the house. Then after getting a UCF fumble, SMU scored again on a nice speed option resulting in backup RB Mapps getting a 33 yard rushing TD. UCF would then drive down the field against SMU's second team. SMU put the 1st team in to try to stop the score but by then it was too late as UCF pounded it in on the goal line. SMU got UCF's try for an onside, and was able to kneel the ball to end the game 49-14 SMU.

How many more games will SMU win? They are now 5-1 and have beaten two ranked opponents. SMU plays The Golden Hurricane next in Tulsa.