GGSM{SMU} 31, Stephen F. Austin 23

Southern Methodist's only win in 2008 came against I-AA Texas State, and so the Mustangs chose to start the 2009 campaign with I-AA Stephen F. Austin. While they got the final result they were hoping for, it wasn't as easy as they would have liked. The Lumberjacks took a nine point lead at the end of the third quarter on their second 5-yard touchdown drive of the game. Both were set up by long interception returns. Stephen F. Austin's two interception returns totaled 130 yards, but SMU's five interception returns totaled only four yards.

However, shortly after taking that lead, Stephen F. Austin fumbled and threw an interception, leading to two Mustang scores to start their season with a win for the first time since 2000.

The brightest spot for the Mustangs was junior running back Shawnbrey McNeal. After playing sparingly at Miami (FL), McNeal transfered back to his native Dallas to be closer to his ailing mother and young child. He carried the ball 19 times for 158 yards, including a 49-yard TD. SMU was last in the nation in rushing in 2008, rushing for only 497 yards in the entire season.

Next week, SMU puts the Shame Mask on the line when they travel to UAB.