DALLAS - A strong fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Louisiana Tech (2-5, 1-2) fell just short as the SMU Mustangs (1-7, 1-3) downed the Bulldogs 37-34 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The loss dampens the Bulldogs hopes of repeating as Western Athletic Conference champions as Tech dropped its second consecutive league game in as many attempts.

Trailing 31-10 with just over one minute remaining in the third quarter, the Bulldogs chances of snapping its three-game losing streak looked bleak. However, a Tech offense that had been absent for most of the contest suddenly came to life.

"The frustrating thing was we were only down four at the half, but I could feel the tension in the air," Bicknell said. "I could feel players pressing. It's just so frustrating because at the end of the game I had that feeling like no one was going to stop us. I have no answers as to why we didn't play like that the entire game."

Bicknell's bunch stormed back to cut the deficit to three points late in the fourth quarter and retained possession of the football with just over two minutes remaining. However, two incomplete passes and an SMU sack set the stage for a fourth down and 18 play with just under two minutes remaining in the game.

On the ensuing fourth down play, junior wide receiver Erick Franklin got behind the SMU defense. However, junior signal caller Luke McCown was forced out of the pocket and under heavy pressure, the Jacksonville, Texas, native's long pass attempt downfield to Franklin was not in time as the ball was knocked away by a recovering SMU defensive back.

"We did get the burners going in the second half," McCown said. "However, we can't put the defense in a position where we have to do that in the second half. We need to step up in the first half and put it together early. How we fix that I'm not sure. It's the same thing every week. It's the little things, especially for me."

The Tech comeback was started by an 80-yard pass completion from McCown to junior wide receiver Tramissian Davis, setting up a one-yard run by senior running back Joe Smith late in the third quarter. The completion was a career long for McCown while the reception was a career best for Davis.

Josh Scobee's extra point following the touchdown was blocked, snapping a string of 55 consecutive makes by the Longview, Texas, native and leaving the Bulldogs with a 31-16 deficit.

"I was proud of the fact we didn't give up," Bicknell said. "It was like we were waiting for something to happen and it did with the pass play to Tramissian. All of a sudden it was like the weight of the world was lifted off of our shoulders."

Following a three and out by SMU, the Bulldogs struck again from the ground as Smith took a handoff up the middle and 43-yards later Tech trailed only 31-23 with 14:44 remaining in the game. For the game, Smith rushed 13 times for 135 yards and three touchdowns, including a career-long 63 yard score in the second quarter. The three touchdowns by Smith were a career high and tied the Cleveland, Texas, native for third place in the Tech record books for the most rushing touchdowns in a single game.

SMU's next drive came to an end when senior defensive lineman Spencer Young recovered a fumble on a fourth down and one play on the Tech 31 yard line. Seven plays later, Scobee connected on a 36-yard field goal to close the gap to 31-26.

Just when it looked like Tech would get the football back trailing by five points, SMU quarterback Richard Bartel - making his first career start - made arguably the play of the game. On third down and long deep in SMU territory, Bartel found wide receiver Cody Cardwell down the sideline for an 84-yard touchdown and a 37-26 lead.

"In the second half when they started coming back, we had to keep the momentum," Bartel said. "We had to show poise, and we did that."

A McCown to Franklin three-yard scoring strike with 4:25 remaining in the game set the stage for the final four minutes. McCown finished the day completing 14 of 35 passes for 259 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

"This offense, we believe in each other and we believe in ourselves," McCown said. "I think that's what is special about us. We don't count any one person out. Everyone on the offense can make plays. Their defense played well and stopped us twice on big fourth downs in the first half and sometimes that's the way things go. You just have to live with it."

SMU running back Keylon Kincade gave the Mustangs a 14-10 halftime lead with two first half scores. On the day, Kincade rushed an incredible 46 times for 158 yards while Bartel finished the afternoon completing 21 of 30 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, juniors Corey Brazil (14 tackles) and Michael Johnson (12 tackles) led the way, while sophomore safety Lee Johnson recorded his first career interception in the second quarter. It was also the first interception of the season for Tech.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday when they host Nevada for homecoming at 2 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium.