DALLAS, Texas – The 2-0 SMU Mustangs will travel to Maryland this weekend for their third game of the season.
After last week’s game against Lamar, SMU Head Coach Rhett Lashlee was asked if his team was ready to take on bigger opponents, like Maryland, who has one of the nation’s best offense.
“Look, y’all have seen our schedule,” Lashlee said. “The pre-season is over. It’s about to get real both out of conference and in conference.”
SMU has dominated in their first two games of the season but will face, what many are calling, “their first major test” of the season on Saturday.
The Mustang’s defensive line seems to have taken a hit, which is not the best news considering the Maryland offense they are about to face. During practice this week, defensive lineman Junior Aho was not practicing after suffering an ankle sprain in last week’s game. Defensive lineman Stephon Wright is also questionable after leaving the Lamar game. DeVere Levelston’s targeting appeal from the Lamar game was denied, meaning he will miss the first half of the Maryland game. With a good chunk of the defensive line missing, SMU will need other players to step up big time in order to walk away with a win.
Tre Siggers, starting SMU running back, has been recovering from a groin injury and was unable to play against Lamar. During practice this week, Siggers was in his jersey but remained on the sidelines.
After sitting out the Lamar game with a tweaked ankle, running back Camar Wheaton was able to practice this week and should be good to go for Maryland.
This upcoming game will be a huge test for Rhett Lashlee’s team in which he told reporters during practice this week that they are going to play as hard as they can.
“It’ll be good to see how we fight and respond in an environment where there are about 80 people on your side and a few moms and dads in the stands and that’s about it.”
SMU and Maryland are set to kick off at 6:30 PM on Saturday.
