SMU dominates Tulsa 69-10 for 4th straight win, now bowl eligible

SMU became bowl eligible for yet another season in a dominating 69-10 win over Tulsa on Saturday over Homecoming. Here’s the recap of how the Mustangs got its 4th straight win, improving to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in AAC play.

SMU took the ball to open the game and started things off with a 73-yard touchdown pass from Preston Stone to Romello Brinson on the 2nd play to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead. Tulsa took over at its 21-yard line and converted a 3rd and 4 with a screen to pick up the 1st down. SMU’s defense stepped up after that to force a turnover on downs with Ahmad Walker making a tackle for loss on Tulsa quarterback Braylon Braxton.

The Mustangs took over at the Tulsa 41 and were quickly faced with a 4th and 6 at the 37. Stone looked to tight end RJ Maryland, who hauled in the reception for 33 yards. Tyler Lavine punched it in on the ground to take a 14-0 SMU lead with 9:34 to go.

Tulsa used Braxton and receiver Devan Williams to work their way down the field on the next drive. Braxton and Williams connected multiple times, including a 37-yard reception that got Tulsa into the redzone. From there, the drive stalled thanks in part to an Isaiah Smith sack that led to a 35-yard field goal from Chase Meyer to cut it to 14-3.

SMU went right down the field to make it 21-3 with 1:46 to go in the 1st quarter. Stone and wide receiver Jordan Kerley connected for 32 yards on the 72-yard drive while Jaylan Knighton ran 25 yards over the final three plays of the drive. He capped it with an 11-yard touchdown run. The drive went 72 yards in eight plays over 2:52 of game time.

On the opening play of the drive for Tulsa, Ahmad Walker tipped a pass and Isaiah Nwokobia intercepted the ball, returning it for a touchdown to make it 28-3.

After SMU stopped Tulsa once again, the Mustangs took over at their own 19 and continued to move the ball on Tulsa. LJ Johnson ran for 12 yards to open the drive before Stone hit Key’Shawn Smith for a 36-yard gain to the Tulsa 30. SMU’s drive stalled from there and Colin Rogers made a 42-yard field goal to make it 31-3 with 12:07 to go in the 2nd quarter.

On the next drive, Tulsa dropped back on 2nd down and Jaelyn Davis-Robinson nabbed an interception deep down the field to set SMU up at its own 38. On the next play, Stone stepped up and dropped one in to Maryland for a 62-yard touchdown pass to make it 38-3 with 11:35 to go in the 1st half.

SMU’s defense stopped Tulsa, forcing a punt. SMU took over at its own 19 and Stone stepped up on 3rd and long to hit freshman Adam Moore for a 52-yard pickup. Stone scrambled to hit Jordan Hudson for a big gain to the Tulsa 18. Stone hit Smith fora 1st down to the Tulsa 4. Camar Wheaton capped the drive with a touchdown run on the next play to make it 45-3 with 7:34 to go in the 2nd quarter.

SMU’s defense forced another three and out. Stone hit Jake Bailey for a 17-yard pickup then LJ Johnson ripped of a 1st down. Kerley caught a pass to get SMU into the redzone. After a penalty negated a touchdown, Moochie Dixon caught a jet sweep for a touchdown to make it 52-3.

SMU got another stop and the Mustangs took over on their own 23 with Kevin Jennings at quarterback. The Mustangs went three and out though and punted it away to Tulsa. Ahmaad Moses sacked Braxton on the 1st play of the Tulsa drive. Tulsa ran out the clock on the 1st half.

SMU forced a three and out to start then took over with Jennings still at quarterback. Jennings hit Carter Camobell for a big pickup to midfield. Jennings picked up a 1st down with a keeper. He then scrambled and hit Smith for another 1st down to the Tulsa 24. He ran to the Tulsa 14 for another 1st down. Velton Gardner ran to the Tulsa 5 then to the Tulsa 1. Gardner punched it in for the 59-3 lead.

Tulsa got some momentum going, driving to SMU territory, but the Mustangs were able to weather the storm and force a turnover on downs. Jennings let Camar Wheaton go to work on the next drive as he went 48 yards for the 66-3 lead.

Tulsa drove down the field against SMU’s backups to score with 9:59 to go in the game. The Mustangs led 66-10. SMU couldn’t get anything going on its next offensive drive with Alex Padilla at the helm and punted the ball away. SMU’s defense forced another Tulsa punt.

Wheaton caught a screen and took it for a huge gain for 26 yards. SMU’s drive got deep into Tulsa territory before it stalled, giving Colin Rogers another field goal to make it 69-10 with 2:24 to go. Tulsa ran out the clock and SMU moved to 6-2 overall.