September 16, 2017

Box Score | Postgame Notes | Photo Gallery

By Dylan Edwards, SMUMustangs.com

FORT WORTH, Texas - For most of the game on Saturday against No. 20 TCU, SMU  stood toe-to-toe with one of the strongest football programs in the country. In the opening stages of the fourth quarter, SMU trailed 35-29 with TCU facing a fourth down on SMU's 40 yard-line. 

TCU would convert and go on to a 56-36 victory, but the Mustangs made them earn it. The SMU offense in particular would rack up yards against a defense that had allowed nothing all year. In the first two games of the year, TCU had allowed a combined 332 yards and seven points to their two opponents. SMU eclipsed both of those themselves handedly, putting up 463 yards and 36 points. In fact, SMU's 181 yards and 16 both were higher marks than what TCU was averaging per game. 

Receivers Trey Quinn and James Proche both found the end zone and were very effective against the Horned Frogs, putting up 116 yards and 93 yards respectively. Quarterback Ben Hicks surpassed 300 yards passing for the fifth time in his career and the second time this season. 

"It says a lot about our football team," head coach Chad Morris said. "We knew they were going to play a lot of cover two to Courtland (Sutton) and try to shut him down. They did a good job of that. When that happens, someone else opens up. Trey Quinn opened up. James Proche made some plays as well.

Right out of the gate, SMU was firing offensively against the Horned Frogs. The Mustangs scored on their first four drives of the game to grab an early 19-7 lead. It looked like after a Josh Williams field goal with 17 seconds left in the first half would give SMU a 22-21 lead going to halftime, but TCU connected on a 38-yard pass in the end zone as time expired to retake the lead. Losing the lead in that fashion right before halftime was a difficult way to go into the locker room. 

"It was a huge momentum swing right there, especially knowing they were going to get the ball to start the second half," Morris said. "We were in position, but we didn't jump for the ball like we practice. We didn't make a play, and they made one."

The SMU ground game was also efficient when called upon, racking up 124 yards while averaging more than four yards per carry. Braeden West, Xavier Jones, and Ke'Mon Freeman all were fed eight carries or more, but it was Freeman that found the end zone twice and led the team in rushing yards. 

The defense struggled against TCU's extremely talented and experienced offense, but they did continue their opportunistic play. With the three recovered fumbles, SMU now has forced eight turnovers through three games. 

"One play led to another play. That's what happens when you play against a really good team like this," Morris said. "Our guys kept fighting and fighting. That's all I can ask them to do. We battled back. We never quit. We never gave up."

Chad Morris postgame radio interview

Ke'Mon Freeman 1-yard TD run


Ke'Mon Freeman 34-yard TD run


Ben Hicks 61-yard TD pass to James Proche