Oct. 14, 2006
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DALLAS (AP) - Justin Willis threw for 208 yards and four touchdowns off the bench in his return to action as SMU beat Marshall 31-21 on Saturday.
Willis, who started SMU's first five games but was benched last week, completed 20 of 23 passes after replacing Corey Slater in the second quarter.
Willis' third touchdown pass, a 7-yard score to Reynaldo Pellerin with 6:38 remaining, gave SMU (4-3, 2-1 Conference USA) the lead. Less than a minute later, Willis sealed the win with a 17-yard touchdown to Ryan Kennedy.
"We knew this was a pivotal game for us," said SMU Head Coach Phil Bennett. "With what has gone on this week, it's a tribute to our players that they came out ready to play."
With the win, SMU improves to 4-3 on the season, its best start since a 5-2 mark in 1986. SMU has also won five straight home games, which is the most since a seven game streak over 1981 and 1982.
Devin Lowery had all three interceptions for SMU, becoming just the eighth player in school history to notch three or more picks in a game.
Marshall took a 21-17 lead early in the fourth after Morris' 25-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Fitzgerald.
Emmanuel Sanders set an SMU school record with a touchdown reception in his fifth straight game after catching a 3-yard score from Willis in the third. He led SMU with 62 yards on six receptions.
In addition to Lowery's three picks, SMU was helped defensively by Joe Sturdivant, who registered a game-high 12 stops.
