SMU pulls away from Memphis for key AAC win, 38-34

SMU Football went on the road and beat Memphis 38-34 on Saturday for a critical AAC win down the stretch of the 2023 season. Here’s the blow-by-blow recap of the win for the Mustangs.

Memphis took the ball and picked up a 1st down, but the Tigers were intercepted by SMU linebacker Ahmad Walker. CJ Sanders’ hit lead to the interception and SMU took over at the Memphis 48. On 4th down, Preston Stone hit RJ Maryland for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead on a deep pass.

Memphis took over and picked up a couple 1st downs once again. After a sack by Cam Robertson, Seth Henigan hit Roc Taylor for a 1st down to the SMU 32. Memphis’ drive stalled and Tanner Gillis hit a 47-yard field goal to make it 7-3, SMU with 7:25 to go in the 1st half.

SMU took over and LJ Johnson opened with a 17-yard run. After an incomplete pass, Camar Wheaton ran for five yards, but the 3rd down pass fell incomplete. Stone punted and it went for a touchback.

Henigan organized a drive that picked up multiple 1st downs, getting out to the Memphis 42. After a completion to Joe Scates, Blake Watson ran for 10 yards to the SMU 40. Jonathan McGill had a nice tackle for loss, but Henigan hit DaMeer Blankumsee for a 27-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-7 Memphis with 56 seconds to go in the 1st quarter.

Johnson opened with a 17-yard rush on the 2nd consecutive drive for SMU. After a holding call, SMU faced 1st and 20. Johnson ran again for a gain of 8. Stone scrambled for a gain of five. The drive sputtered and Stone punted. After a Memphis 3-and-out, SMU took over at its own 30.

Camar Wheaton opened with two straight runs that picked up a 1st down. Stone scrambled 16 yards for a 1st down then hit Roderick Daniels for 15 yards to the Memphis 28. Johnson ran twice for a 1st down to the Memphis 13. Stone hit Key’Shawn Smith for a jet flip that picked up 1st down to the Memphis 5. After a Johnson run to the 1, Stone kept it for a sneak to make it 14-10. The sneak capped a 13-play, 70 yard drive that took 6:04 off the clock.

After an illegal block in the back on the kickoff, Memphis took over at its 12. Jahari Rogers was called for a roughing the passer penalty, which moved the ball out to the Memphis 35. Memphis kept things moving with key 3rd down conversions. That brought up a 4th down near midfield, which Henigan converted with Koby Drake for a 1st down to the SMU 25. The Memphis drive stalled and the Tigers kicked a field goal to make it 14-13. SMU ran out the clock to end the 1st half.

SMU took the ball at the 20 and on 3rd and 6, Stone hit Romello Brinson for a 1st down. After a pickup of 8, Stone was sacked for a loss of 10. On 3rd and 12, Stone hit Jake Bailey for a gain of 24. Wheaton picked up a 1st down to the Memphis 29 then a gain of 8 to the 21. Johnson picked up a 1st down to the Memphis 18. Daniels picked up 5 then Johnson ran for 10 yards to the 3-yard line. Johnson capped the 13-play, 80-yard drive in 5:21 with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Memphis responded with a long drive of its own as Henigan hit Taylor on multiple big plays to get the Tigers deep in SMU territory. After a 1st down, Memphis found itself inside the SMU 5 with a 4th and 1 at the 3. Henigan kept it for a 1st down then Brandon Thomas was stopped on 1st down then scored on the next play. Henigan hit Anthony Landphere for the 2-point conversion to make it 21-21.

Stone hit Key’Shawn Smith on back-to-back receptions then Stone hit Moochie Dixon to get the Mustangs to the 1-yard line. Jaylan Knighton punched it in from 1-yard out to make it 28-21, SMU.

Memphis turned around and drove right down the field with Henigan dealing through the air. Watson capped the scoring drive with an 11-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 28.

Stone took over and hit Brinson for a gain of 23 then Jordan Hudson for a gain of 32 to the Memphis 20. The drive sputtered and SMU kicked a 32-yard field goal to make it 31-28 with 12:25 to play. Memphis took over and forced a three-and-out. SMU took over at its own 34 after a 15-yard return by Roderick Daniels.

SMU couldn’t capitalize, going three and out. Memphis took over at its 26. Sutton Smith picked up 8 on 1st down. Henigan found Blankumsee for a gain of 19 to the SMU 47. The drive fizzled and SMU forced a punt from Memphis, taking over at the SMU 27.

After a run for no gain, Stone found Daniels for a gain of 25 to midfield. Johnson ran for five yards on the next play. Johnson ran for a 1st down to the Memphis 33. Stone hit Brinson for a 1st down to the Memphis 20. Johnson ran for 12 yards to the Memphis 8. Stone hit Jordan Hudson for a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 38-28 with 2:41 to play. The throw capped a 9-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that took 4:53 off the clock.

Memphis took over at its own 30. Henigan hit Scates for a gain of 6. Henigan then hit Watson for a big gain into SMU territory. After another pass to Taylor, the Tigers were at the SMU 30. Memphis scored on a 20-yard touchdown to make it 38-34 with 53 seconds to go after Gillis missed the point after attempt. SMU recovered the onside kick. The Mustangs were able to kneel out the clock and win, 38-34.

SMU now sits at 9-2 overall and 7-0 in AAC play with the 11 a.m. CT matchup against Navy set for next week.