3 keys to victory: SMU aims for 2-0 start

The excitement will be palpable this Saturday when the SMU Mustangs (1-0) return to Dallas for their first home game against the Houston Christian Huskies.

SMU enters the game with the goal of starting the season 2-0 for the first time since 2022 while extending its impressive home winning streak to nine games.

Meanwhile, the Huskies are thirsting for an upset win to start their 2024 season with flying colors.

Speaking of surprises, the Mustangs were able to avoid one in their season opener, overcoming a 24-13 deficit against the Nevada Wolfpack and securing a 29-24 victory with an inspiring fourth-quarter performance.

Head coach Rhett Lashlee and the Mustangs will look to avoid a similarly close loss at Gerald J. Ford Stadium by using last week’s win as a wake-up call and minimizing mistakes that could prove costly against tougher ACC opponents.

Here are three keys to the Mustangs’ victory in their home opener on Saturday.

A major problem for defensive coordinator Scott Symons and his unit last Saturday was stopping the run. Against Nevada, SMU conceded 148 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Houston Christian’s greatest strength on offense last year was their running game. They led the Southland Conference with an average of 158.4 rushing yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry.

Running back Champ Dozier led the Huskies’ running attack early last season, carrying the ball 57 times for 294 yards and four touchdowns in four starts before being sidelined by injury. He averaged an impressive 5.2 yards per carry and 73.5 yards per game.

The Huskies have shown a balanced and strong offense all season, with four different players surpassing 250 yards, demonstrating a team approach that kept the defense guessing and allowed fresh players to contribute consistently.

Additionally, the team’s ability to find the end zone on the ground was evident, as three players scored four or more rushing touchdowns.

Turnovers and mistakes undoubtedly contributed to the Mustangs’ sluggish start last week. An early interception by quarterback Preston Stone and a botched punt by punter Isaac Pearson gave Nevada prime field position that led directly to their first point.

Last season, the Huskies’ defense proved to be a disruptive force, forcing 17 total turnovers. They intercepted six balls and led the league with an impressive 12 forced turnovers and 11 turnover recoveries.

In a match where one team is looking to cause an upset, losing the ball can make all the difference, as we almost saw last week.

The Mustangs won last week on a big play when Stone teamed with tight end RJ Maryland for the game-winning 34-yard touchdown.

This week, Maryland has a chance to put his name in the Mustangs’ record books. With another touchdown catch, he will surpass former Mustang Kyle Granson and become the program’s all-time leading tight end to catch touchdowns.

If there was ever a perfect time for the Mustangs to showcase their explosive passing attack, this game is it.

With the Huskies’ pass defense showing weaknesses, this presents a golden opportunity for Stone and the Mustangs to live out their offensive desires and make big plays down low.

The Huskies’ pass defense allowed the most passes in the conference in 2023 with 257.1 yards through the air and 21 touchdowns while allowing 385.5 total yards and 35 touchdowns.

Given the Mustangs’ wealth of talent at both the running back and receiver positions, this matchup represents an ideal opportunity for offensive coordinator Casey Woods to showcase his playmakers and deploy a versatile offense.

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