by KATE HAIROPOULOS, Staff Writer khairopoulos@dallasnews.com , THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Yes, SMU had to overcome a 13-point deficit, block three kicks and hold on to keep Rice winless with a 31-28 victory Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd of 15,475 at Ford Stadium. But after 25 bowl-less years on the Hilltop, the big picture is most important.

The Mustangs improved to 5-4 overall and 4-1 in Conference USA, meaning they're tied for first in the West and only one win from bowl eligibility with three to play.

"We're not used to winning around here," Sanders said, "so the emotions are very high."

Sanders had six catches for 136 yards and a touchdown and running back Shawnbrey McNeal rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

SMU fell behind 20-7 after freshman quarterback Kyle Padron threw an interception and lost a fumble in the first quarter and the defense looked uncharacteristically vulnerable.

But Padron (17-of-24 for 234 yards and a touchdown) shook off the early mistakes and led SMU on a 78-yard scoring drive, capped with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Sanders, late in the first half.

Then, when Rice attempted a 37-yard field goal two seconds before halftime, cornerback Sterling Moore laid out to block it.

Senior Bryan McCann returned the ball 74 yards for a touchdown with no time left to give SMU a 21-20 lead just like that.

It all looked familiar. McCann returned a blocked field goal try 63 yards for a touchdown in a win last month against East Carolina, also swinging the momentum before halftime.

"You tell me how often that happens; I haven't had it happen in 10 years," coach June Jones said. "We have two games that we've won that way. That gives you an idea. The guys are believing and playing together."

SMU held the lead at halftime because Margus Hunt had blocked an extra point try after Rice's second touchdown. The 6-8 Estonian discus thrower, who is playing football for the first time in his life, then opened the second half with another blocked field goal attempt. It was his sixth blocked kick, an SMU record. The NCAA record for a season is eight.

The Mustangs increased their lead to 31-20 with 10:12 to play after a field goal and McNeal's second touchdown. SMU linebacker Youri Yenga set up the TD by forcing a fumble deep in Rice territory, one of three that Kennemer recovered for SMU.

Rice (0-9, 0-5) hung around, converting two fourth downs on a late scoring drive and then making a two-point conversion that cut the deficit to three. But the program that had won three straight over SMU and spoiled the Mustangs' bowl hopes in the 2006 season finale could get no closer.

SMU had 13 penalties for 122 yards, and the defense allowed the Owls to surpass their season averages in points and total yards.

But the Mustangs won.

"It wasn't pretty, but we've been not pretty and lost a lot of years," Jones said. "So the kids are finding a way to win."

Block-busters

SMU blocked three kicks by Rice?s Clark Fangmeier ? two field

goal attempts and one extra-point try ? in Saturday?s 31-28 win:

Quarter

First quarter

1:25 remaining

Rice 13, SMU 7

Second quarter

:02 remaining

Rice 20, SMU 14

Third quarter

10:31 remaining

SMU 21, Rice 20

Blocked

PAT

by Margus Hunt

FG

by Sterling Moore

FG

by Margus Hunt

Comment

Hunt?s fifth block of the season set an SMU record and would account for SMU?s 21-20 halftime lead.

Moore?s block and Bryan McCann?s 74-yard TD return turned a possible nine-point deficit into a 21-20 lead.

Hunt?s second block kept SMU in the lead, which it padded with a

field goal on its ensuing drive.

Rice 13 7 0 8 - 28

SMU 7 14 3 7 - 31

First Quarter

SMU-McNeal 7 run (Szymanski kick), 8:56.

Rice-Randolph 11 pass from Fanuzzi (Fangmeier kick), 2:39.

Rice-Randolph 33 pass from Fanuzzi (kick blocked), 1:24.

Second Quarter

Rice-Ross 1 run (Fangmeier kick), 5:23.

SMU-Sanders 23 pass from Padron (Szymanski kick), 1:41.

SMU-McCann 74 blocked field goal return (Szymanski kick), :00.

Third Quarter

SMU-FG Szymanski 23, 4:27.

Fourth Quarter

SMU-McNeal 9 run (Szymanski kick), 10:12.

Rice-Dixon 4 pass from Fanuzzi (Wardlow pass from Fanuzzi), 1:47.

A-15,475.

Rice SMU

First downs 23 18

Rushes-yards 30-77 34-96

Passing 250 234

Comp-Att-Int 29-44-0 17-24-1

Return Yards 21 15

Punts-Avg. 2-49.0 3-50.3

Fumbles-Lost 3-3 2-1

Penalties-Yards 4-38 13-122

Time of Possession 26:35 33:25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Rice, Ross 12-50, T.Smith 7-17, Goodson 7-15, Knox 1-4, Fanuzzi 2-(minus 4), Team 1-(minus 5). SMU, McNeal 21-88, Brooks 0-8, Line 5-4, Padron 8-(minus 4).

PASSING-Rice, Fanuzzi 29-42-0-250, Goodson 0-2-0-0. SMU, Padron 17-24-1-234.

RECEIVING-Rice, Randolph 8-93, Dixon 7-32, Goodson 4-14, Wardlow 3-42, Dupree 3-21, McDonald 2-35, Beasley 1-11, Knox 1-2. SMU, Sanders 6-136, Wilkerson 5-32, Beasley 4-48, A.Robinson 1-11, Line 1-7.

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