SMU defense dominates, Mustangs beat East Carolina 31-10

SMU Football went into Greenville, N.C. and escaped with a 31-10 win over East Carolina on Thursday night. The Mustangs moved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in AAC play.

Here’s the play-by-play of how the Mustangs got the win.

SMU got the ball to receive and went 3 and out to open the game. East Carolina got the ball and did the same. SMU took over and after a false start, got backed up on its own 15. The Mustangs went 3 and out on that drive as well. Preston Stone delivered a strike to Romello Brinson, but it was short of the line to gain.

ECU took over at its own 35. The Pirates went 3 and out, giving SMU the ball back. The Mustangs marched down the field thanks to Stone hitting Key’Shawn Smith for a big gain into ECU territory. After Stone hit RJ Maryland for a 1st down, Stone stepped up and hit Smith for a touchdown and a 7-0 Mustangs lead.

After SMU forced another 3 and out, Stone hit Jordan Kerley for a 48-yard pickup. Two plays later, he hit Roderick Daniels for a touchdown to make it 14-0 with 5:04 to go in the 1st quarter.

ECU took over and established itself offensively with a drive into SMU territory. Quarterback Mason Garcia helped the Pirates with some runs of his own, picking up yardage to push into SMU territory. On 4th and 2 at the SMU 34, Garcia hit Jaylen Johnson for a 1st down at the SMU 32. SMU held from there and Andrew Conrad hit a career-long 49-yard field goal to make it 14-3.

SMU took over at its own 15. Jaylan Knighton ran twice for a combined yardage of seven. After an incomplete pass on 3rd and 3, SMU punted. ECU was forced to punt after another 3 and out. SMU took over at its own 30. The Mustangs couldn’t do anything and were held to a 3 and out. ECU took over at its own 19.

Nose tackle Jordan Miller nabbed a sack on 1st down, which helped set up 3rd and long. Garcia converted, finding Chase Sowell for a 1st down. Sowell was hit for a 1st down to the SMU 25. Sowell caught another pass for a 1st down. Harris ran for seven yards on the next play. After a timeout, 3rd and 1 brought ECU getting stuffed at the line. Garcia took it in for the score to cap a 12-play, 81-yard touchdown drive and closed the gap to 14-10 with 2:43 to go in the 1st half.

SMU couldn’t do much with it, picking up 1st down, but stalling after that. ECU took over at its own 22 and was forced to punt with 7 seconds left. That led to the end of the 1st half.

SMU forced a 3 and out to open the half and ECU did the same to SMU. ECU took over for its second drive on its own 35. After another 3 and out, SMU took over at its own 41 after a kick catch interference call. SMU went 3 and out, backing ECU up with a punt to its own 7.

The Pirates had penalties cut their drive short and punted to SMU. The Mustangs took over at its own 49. SMU went 3 and out. ECU picked up a 1st down to open its possession after a pass and run. On 3rd and 9, Sowell grabbed a pass from Garcia for a 1st down to the ECU 36. SMU’s defense held from there and the Mustangs took over at their own 19 after the punt.

SMU took over and Stone hit Kerley on a deep out route. On 3rd and 7, Stone hit Jake Bailey for a 1st down to the ECU 43. Stone went deep to Hudson and that drew a pass interference call putting the ball at the ECU 27. SMU couldn’t get anything going from there, but Colin Rogers missed a 39-yard field goal.

ECU took over and fumbled it over to SMU, giving the Mustangs the ball at the ECU 32. After an incomplete pass, Knighton was stuffed for a loss of 1. After another incomplete pass, Rogers came on for a 50-yard field goal and nailed it. The Mustangs took a 17-10 lead with 13:18 to play.

SMU forced a 3 and out, getting the ball at its own 17. The Mustangs moved the ball out near midfield, but stalled out. ECU got the ball at its own 14. After a pass interference call on Charles Woods, Jonathan McGill returned an interception 34 yards to make it 24-10.

SMU forced another ECU punt, taking over at its own 30. Stone ran for 10 yards on 2nd and 15, bringing up 3rd and 5. Stone checked it down to LJ Johnson for a 1st down. On 2nd and 10, Stone kept it around the edge for a 1st down. SMU capped the game with a touchdown pass from Stone to RJ Maryland to make it 31-10.

ECU got the ball and drove down to the SMU redzone, but got to 4th and 10 from the 19. SMU forced an incomplete pass and took a knee, giving the Mustangs a 31-10 road win.