Junior running back Zach Line carries the ball through the Demon defense for a touchdown during play against Northwestern State University on Saturday evening in Ford Stadium. SMU won the game 40-7. (Michael Danser/The Daily Campus)
The SMU Mustangs beat the Northwestern State Demons 40-7 Saturday night at Ford Stadium.
The Mustangs scored early in the first quarter to lead the game 6-0.
It all started when Mustang running back Zach Line was able to complete a one-yard rushing touchdown during a third down.
Line then added six more points to the score after a four-yard rushing touchdown three minutes before the end of the first quarter. The first quarter ended with a score that kept SMU over NSU, 13-0.
Mustang kicker Chase Hover added an extra three points after a 29-yard field goal attempt, five minutes into the second quarter.
Hover then added three more points to the score by successfully completing a 27-yard field goal attempt, five minutes left on the second quarter.
Hover recorded four out of five tries Saturday night.
With only two minutes left in the second quarter, Line added six more points to the score by rushing nine yards to complete his third touchdown of the game that put the Mustangs on top 26-0.
Mustangs quarterback J.J. McDermott completed a 30-yard pass to junior wide receiver Darius Johnson four minutes into the third quarter.
McDermott handed the ball successfully to Line who completed a 16-yard rushing touchdown for his fourth touchdown of the evening.
With only two minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Demons decided to go for three points with a 24-yard field goal.
Demon’s kicker John Shaughnessy’s attempted for a field goal, but Mustang defensive end Margus Hunt blocked it.
Hunt recorded his eighth career field goal block, tying the NCAA record of James Ferebee (New Mexico St, 1978-81) and Terrence Holt (North Carolina St, 1999-02).
Hunt now has 14 career blocked kicks, eight field goals and six PAT’s, which ranks third highest in NCAA history.
During a post game interview, Hunt said the field goal block was not a goal he was aiming for.
“It’s fun whenever we have opportunity to take points off the board, but I was not aiming for it,” Hunt said. “It’s not my goal to get the record or be the all-time best, I just want to play football and do what I do.”
During the fourth quarter with only five minutes in, Line once again scored a touchdown from a 5-yard rush.
Line had completed his fifth rushing touchdown of the evening, making it the most rushing touchdowns completed in one game by an SMU player, tying the C-USA record.
Line also broke a SMU record. He now has 25 career rushing touchdowns, which ranks him fifth in most career rushing touchdowns at SMU.
“It’s cool to be right there in the names with Doak,” Line said.
The Demons responded late in the fourth quarter with two minutes left on the clock. Mustang quarterback Kyle Padron was forced to fumble the ball by Northwestern State’s junior linebacker Reggie Toomer.
The ball was then recovered by the Demon’s cornerback Phil LeBlanc, who ran it for a 93-yard run touchdown. The fourth quarter remained scoreless after NSU’s touchdown, making the final score 40-7.
SMU now holds a record of 11 wins and 3 losses playing at home within the last 14 season home games, and a season record of 2 wins and 1 loss.
The Mustangs currently holds the number one position in the Conference USA— West standing. The Mustangs will take on the Memphis Tigers in Memphis, Tenn. Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. The game will be broadcast on FSN.
