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Let’s start this review by congratulating the Georgia State Panthers, who has everybody in Knoxville questioning the very nature of reality after watching the Volunteers fall to the Panthers 38-30. That’s how you deliver Sun Belt Heat! But wait, there’s more!
Damn, that’s how you slam a coffin lid, boy! (And I didn’t say “Roy.”) Shawn Elliot has, by way of this Big Balls statement, named himself the official spokesperson of the Sun Belt (but not of Sun Belt Heat, which is sponsored by O’Doul’s – enjoy great pilsner taste without sacrificing your edge).
A Mixture of Thrills and Gaffs
The Red Wolves dazzled during the opening minutes when Darrean Jackson picked off Shane Buechele and rumbled to the SMU seven. Logan Bonner followed up by connecting with Omar Bayless for the first of four TDs. Later, the Red Wolves defense pounded Buechele into the end zone for a sack and safety. There was much rejoicing.
But the Mustangs were relentless and steadfast, with Buechele dinking-and-dunking for short yardage against the Red Wolves accommodating pass defense, then occasionally burning the secondary with big plays.
By halftime, SMU had a 16-9 lead. But Arkansas State emerged from the tunnel aflame, with Bonner hitting Bayless (132 yards, 4 TDs) for two more scores and building a 23-16 lead.
A couple of fatal special teams gaffs proved to be the Red Wolves’ undoing when SMU returned a kick off for a 100 yard score, and a fumbled punt put the Mustangs on the 50 for a short TD. The Mustangs never looked back.
SMU and Arkansas State Was About as Even-Steven as it Gets
On paper, the Mustangs and Red Wolves bore striking similarities, especially on offense. The back-an-forth nature of the game confirmed it. Check out the stat lines for both QBs:
| C/A | Yards | TDs | Picks | RTG | |
| Logan Bonner | 32/50 | 324 | 4 | 1 | 140.8 |
| Shane Buechele | 30/49 | 360 | 0 | 1 | 118.9 |
Both QBs’ picks led to opposing touchdowns. Both tossed the ball like they owned stock in passing yards. While Bonner found more success in the end zone (finding Omar Bayless all four times), Buechele had the edge in yards.
Also of note, both lead running backs (Ke’Mon Freeman of SMU and Marcel Murray of Arkansas State) put up similar numbers (22/86 and 17/77 respectively). The only difference? SMU’s Xavier Jones mopped up for the Mustangs with 3 TD runs.
Who are these Red Wolves Moving Forward?
The Red Wolves defense spent the sixty minutes searching for their identity. The soft pass coverage allowed Buechel to move the chains with short passes, preventing the Red Wolves from putting much pressure on the QB. A fan base accustomed to seeing a pile of sacks were treated to only two.
Yet, the defense was pretty tight in the end zone, forcing four field goal attempts. The defense bent a great deal on Saturday, but for much of the game, it refused to break. Additionally, nine points came directly for the defense’s aggression. Some of that old moxie remains intact.
On offense, Bonner was sharp with the passing game, but the run game struggled to deliver the impact necessary for diversity. Bonner often attempted long pass plays, some of which were overthrown, other were dropped. A few games into the season, these become completions. On Saturday, they too often led to three-and-outs.
The offensive line was a mixture of failure and success. At times, they seemed to have the SMU defensive front managed. But by the end of the game, the line couldn’t stop a three-man rush from harassing Bonner. There’s still work to do and problems to solve, preferably before the team arrives in Las Vegas next week to play the UNLV Rebels.
A former notary public, Jeremy Harper is a professional writer and Chief Instigator for Storm the Castle Creative. He spends much of his free time staring blankly into space.
