SMU crushes Temple in every facet, 55-0

SMU Football went on the road and improved to 5-2 overall with a dominant showing in every facet on Friday against Temple, winning 55-0. Here’s the blow-by-blow recap of the game.

SMU drove right down the field on the opening drive. Jordan Hudson caught a pass from Preston Stone to convert a 1st down on 3rd and 4. That moved SMU into Temple territory and on 3rd and 1, Stone and Jaylan Knighton weren’t on the same page, fumbling the ball away.

Temple didn’t get anything going though, punting on its 1st drive. SMU couldn’t respond either, punting the ball away. Temple got a big play to start its drive after cornerback Jahari Rogers was ejected, but the drive fizzled on SMU’s side of the field.

SMU took over and Stone hit Jordan Kerley for a 43-yard reception that jumpstarted the drive. Stone targeted Kerley again on the drive, drawing a pass interference call on Temple that set SMU up in the redzone. Romello Brinson took a jet sweep to the 3-yard line, which set up Knighton to put SMU up 7-0. The Mustangs drove 90 yards in eight plays in just 2:42.

Temple went three and out on the next drive. The Mustangs took over on their own 42. LJ Johnson rolled on the ground for back-to-back carries, getting SMU into Temple territory. Stone kept for a 13-yard keeper for a 1st down. Stone targeted Key’Shawn Smith that drew a pass interference call. That set up a touchdown pass from Stone to Jordan Hudson.

Armed with a 14-0 lead, Scott Symons’ defense once again forced a Temple punt. The Mustangs took over at their own 41 after a Temple penalty. Hudson and Stone connected for a 16-yard reception to end the 1st quarter. The Mustangs kept rolling on that drive, mixing in passes to Jake Bailey and runs to Camar Wheaton and Tyler Lavine to set up a RJ Maryland touchdown reception. The Mustangs took a 21-0 lead on the 9-play, 59-yard drive in 3:34.

Temple took over at its own 25-yard line and drove 64 yards in 13 plays, eating up 6:27 of game clock. After some key plays from the Owls’ offense and a couple of penalties on the Mustangs, Temple had the ball at the SMU 2. The defense stepped up and held, forcing a turnover on downs.

After Knighton picked up a 1st down, Stone hit Brinson for a 43-yard pickup to the Temple 35, but the drive stalled. Temple took over after a touchback with 2:06 to go in the 1st half. That drive went no where and the Mustangs got the ball back with time to drive down the field for a field goal. Colin Rogers made it 24-0 at the half with his 25-yard field goal.

After a 3 and out forced by the Mustangs, Temple punted to Roderick Daniels and he took it 67 yards for the score to make it 31-0. SMU once again forced a three and out to give the offense the ball back at its own 42.

Stone hit Brinson for a 9-yard pickup then LJ Johnson ripped off a 22-yard pickup, which set up Stone’s 21-yard touchdown run to make it 38-0 with 10 minutes to play in the 3rd quarter. SMU’s defense did get tested as Brock Forrest drove Temple down the field. Temple’s field goal to break the shutout was no good though.

SMU got a 47-yard field goal from Rogers to make it 41-0. SMU’s defense got another stop, giving Kevin Henry-Jennings his opportunity at quarterback for the Mustangs. He took advantage with a touchdown pass to Hudson on a jet flip make it 48-0.

Chris Adimora grabbed an interception to give it back to Henry-Jennings & Co. Henry-Jennings hit Brinson for a nice 1st down pass to get SMU near the redzone. Smith took a jet sweep for 1st down to get it into the redzone. Henry-Jennings made it 55-0 not even midway through the 4th quarter with a keeper. SMU got another stop and then ran out the clock to move to 5-2 overall.