Sept. 8, 2007

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DALLAS (AP) -- Justin Willis completed 30 of 42 passes for a career-high 353 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 82 more yards as SMU beat North Texas 45-31 on Saturday night.

The Mustangs (1-1) almost squandered a 14-point fourth quarter lead but Willis found Zack Sledge in the corner of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass to give SMU a 38-31 lead with 4:19 left in the game. Then Bryce Hudman returned an interception 49 yards for a score with 3:39 left.

The game marked the first time that North Texas (0-2) has played at SMU since 1992. The schools are separated by only 35 miles but renewed their rivalry just last year after a 13-year break.

The Mean Green tied the game at 31 after Micah Mosley scored on a 3-yard run with 8:53 left in the game to cap nine-play, 99-yard drive that consumed only 1:44.

SMU running back James Mapps gave SMU a 31-17 after he scored his second touchdown of the game on a 29-yard run on the final play of third quarter. Mapps also scored on a 5-yard draw in the first quarter. Mapps finished with 46 yards on 10 attempts.

The Mustangs scored 21 consecutive points and erased an 11-point deficit after Willis threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders to give SMU a 24-14 lead with 13:22 left in the third quarter.

Devin Lowery led SMU with 160 yards on seven receptions.

Meager gave UNT a 14-3 first quarter lead with touchdown passes of 4 yards to Brandon Jackson and 25 yards to Fitzgerald.

Willis' 435 yards in total offense (82 rush, 353 pass) ranks second in a game all-time at SMU.