As it said goodbye to the Cotton Bowl November 13, SMU (3-5, 2-2 WAC) exploded for its most points in 18 years in a 58-16 victory over Cal State Northridge in the school's final regular season game in "The House That Doak Built." The Mustangs' 58 points were the most since defeating Grambling, 59-27, on September 19, 1981.
"In the second half, our football team improved," said SMU head coach Mike Cavan. "We haven't ever given up hope this season."
Although it was the last home game for 13 SMU seniors, the Mustangs' talented true freshmen were the story of the game. All eight of SMU's touchdowns against the Matadors were scored by true freshmen. RB Kris Briggs tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns and had a career-best 137 yards on just seven carries. WR Chris Cunningham tallied 279 all-purpose yards (106 receiving, 90 kick return yards and 83 punt return yards) and scored on a 90-yard kickoff return and a 73-yard TD reception. Freshmen Cody Cardwell and Johnnie Freeman each tallied scores for the Mustangs as well.
"We think our future is with our young guys," said Cavan. "They are starting to grow up. They need to because it's going to be tougher from here on out."
SMU's defense, which has surrendered just 30 points in the past three games, registered a season-best six QB sacks against the pass-happy Cal State Northridge offense. Senior DE Luke Johnson was credited with 1.5 sacks and broke the school's all-time sack record. Johnson left the game with 19.5 sacks, a half sack better than Anthony Beverley. Johnson Patman, Johnson's counterpart at DE, had 2.5 sacks, three tackles for losses (-20 yards) and seven total tackles.
SMU won its third consecutive game and enters the Tulsa game November 20 with momentum. The Ponies have not only won three straight overall, but three in succession against the Golden Hurrican, which lost 37-34 to Louisiana-Monroe Saturday afternoon.
SMU, which has made the Cotton Bowl its home from 1948-78 and again from 1995-99, will return to campus to play in the brand-new Gerald J. Ford Stadium next season. SMU is scheduled to open its facility on September 2, 2000, vs. Kansas.
