SMU can't keep pace with TCU, falls 34-17

SMU rolled into TCU with confidence, but the Mustangs couldn’t put points on the board and fell, 34-17, on Saturday. Here’s the recap of how the game played out in Ft. Worth.

SMU won the toss and received the kick. After a Preston Stone run, Camar Wheaton ran for a 1st down. After a completion to Romello Brinson, Wheaton ran for another 1st down to move SMU across the 50. Stone stood in the pocket to deliver a strike to wideout Jordan Hudson for a 1st down to move the Mustangs to the TCU 25. Stone completed a pass to Moochie Dixon, which brought up a 3rd and 4 at the 19. Stone scrambled for a 1st down to the 14. Stone ran on 2nd and 10 for nine yards. On 3rd and 1, Stone was tackled for a short loss. Colin Rogers kicked a 24-yard field goal to give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead with 8:47 to go in the 1st quarter.

TCU got the ball and opened with a reverse. Isaiah Nwokobia sacked Chandler Morris on 2nd down. After TCU picked up another 1st down, the Mustangs defense got a tackle for loss on 3rd and 1, leading to a TCU punt. The Mustangs took over on their own 2-yard line.

SMU took over and Wheaton continued to run hard, picking up nine yards on two carries. On 3rd and 1, Stone threw the ball away, leading to a punt. TCU took over at the SMU 46.

TCU faced a 3rd and 14 with Morris completing it to Jaylon Robinson for a 1st down. Emani Bailey ran for a 1st down on the next play. Brandon Crossley made a tackle for loss, bringing up 2nd and 13. JoJo Earle caught a pass to the SMU 21 and TCU converted 4th and short. Morris hit Jared Wiley for a touchdown and the Horned Frogs took a 7-3 lead.

SMU took over at its own 25. Stone hit Jaylan Knighton for an 8-yard pickup, bringing the 1st quarter to a close. Knighton picked up a 1st down on the next run. Knighton ran for a 1st down on the next play. Wheaton came back in and picked up a 1st down. Stone hit Dixon, bringing up a 3rd and 2. Wheaton didn’t pick up a 1st down and that brought up 4th and 2, which TCU stuffed.

TCU took over at its own 32 and Morris hit JP Richardson for a 38-yard gain. After a sack by Je’lin Samuels, TCU was cut down, bringing up a 3rd and 14. Morris threw to Earle for 10 yards and then TCU picked up the 1st down on 4th and 3. On 3rd and 6 at the SMU 16, Robinson caught that gave the Horned Frogs a 1st down. Wiley caught a touchdown from Morris to give TCU a 14-3 lead.

SMU took over and hit Roderick Daniels for a 44-yard pickup to the TCU 32. On 3rd and 9, Stone scrambled for a 1st down. Tyler Lavine carried for seven yards then drew a facemask penalty. Stone ran off the right side to the TCU 3-yard line. Wheaton went over the top on 3rd and goal for the SMU touchdown. The Mustangs closed the gap to 14-10 on a 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.

TCU took over and after a false start, Bailey picked up 11. SMU’s defense held and TCU was forced to punt. SMU took over at its own 29. Knighton picked up 13 on a run. SMU was content to run clock and punt it away with 12 seconds left. TCU took a knee and a 14-10 halftime lead into the locker room.

TCU opened with back-to-back runs, picking up a 1st down. TCU converted a 3rd and 1 run for a 1st down. Morris took off for a 21-yard gain to the SMU 28. Morris escaped for another 1st down run to the SMU 13. After a holding call on TCU, Bailey ran for six yards. After a drop, TCU faced 3rd and 14, but couldn’t convert. Griffin Kell nailed the 35-yard field goal for a 17-10 lead with 11:05 to go in the 3rd quarter.

SMU took over at its own 25, but went three and out after calling three straight passes. TCU took over at its own 40 and picked up nine yards then a 1st down. After another run, TCU picked up a 1st down to the SMU 38. After Chase Curtis broke a tackle, TCU picked up a 1st down to the SMU 23. Morris hit Warren Thompson for a 1st down to the SMU 11. The drive sputtered and TCU kicked a field goal to go up 20-10.

SMU took over at its own 25. After a Wheaton run, Stone hit Hudson for a 27-yard pickup. Wheaton ran again for five yards then Knighton carried for two. On 3rd and 3, Knighton ran for a yard. On 4th and 2, Stone’s pass was broken up, giving TCU the ball at its own 36.

TCU rolled with Bailey picking up plenty of yards couple with another Wiley reception for a 1st down. The drive was capped by a 24-yard touchdown run by Bailey to make it 27-10, TCU.

SMU took over and Stone hit Maryland for a 1st down then found Dixon for a 1st down pickup. After a holding on the Mustangs, Stone threw incomplete then an interception. TCU took over at the SMU 10 on the final play of the 3rd quarter. TCU couldn’t muster a touchdown and couldn’t get points after a fake field goal failed.

Stone hit Maryland for a 1st down then Jordan Kerley for a 51-yard reception to the TCU 18. SMU faced a 3rd and 7 on the TCU 15, but Stone was intercepted on a pass intended for Jake Bailey. TCU moved the ball out to midfield then picked up a 1st down on a 3rd and 4 conversion. TCU’s drive sputtered and the Frogs couldn’t convert a 4th down.

SMU took over at its own 28. Stone took a downfield shot on 1st down then hit Romello Brinson for a 8-yard pickup. Wheaton picked up the 1st down on the next play. Stone was sacked by TCU on the next play. Stone hit Maryland for a 1st down to the TCU 42. Dixon picked up a 1st down to get SMU threatening even more. On 4th and 2, Stone found Bailey for a 1st down. Tyler Lavine barreled in to make it 27-17 with 1:47 to play.

After not recovering the onside kick, TCU scored again with a Chase Curtis touchdown on 4th down to make it a 34-17 final score.