SMU pulls away from North Texas, wins 45-21

SMU Football went into halftime with a 17-14 lead over North Texas then pulled away to win 45-21 on Friday in Ford Stadium. Here’s the blow-by-blow recap of how the Mustangs improved to 8-2 overall and 6-0 in AAC play.

North Texas got the ball to open the game and Chandler Rogers opened with a pass to Ja’Mori Maclin that put the Mean Green right in SMU territory. UNT was able to push the ball deeper into SMU territory, but the Mustangs defense stepped up in a big way to force a turnover on downs.

Preston Stone took over at quarterback for SMU and hit Jake Bailey for a 1st down to start things off for the Mustangs. Stone then came right back with a pass to RJ Maryland to get SMU knocking on the door of the redzone. LJ Johnson carried the Mustangs inside the 10 before Stone hit Moochie Dixon for a touchdown pass to make it 7-0.

SMU’s defense forced a three-and-out, but then Stone threw an interception to give the ball right back. UNT took advantage and drove right down the field for a 10-play, 80-yard drive that was capped with a Rogers to Trey Cleveland touchdown pass from 19 yards out. That tied the score at 7.

Stone took over and using Jaylan Knighton and Johnson, drove to the UNT side of the field. Stone bought time and hit Maryland for a 35-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7 with 34 seconds left in the 1st quarter.

UNT took over at its own 15 and Rogers hit Maclin with a 54-yard pass to move the Mean Green to the SMU 30 to cap the 1st quarter. UNT’s drive stalled from there and Noah Rauschenberg missed the 42-yard attempt.

Stone hit Dixon on a big completion into UNT territory then Knighton picked up a 1st down. Camar Wheaton got SMU inside the 5, but the Mustangs couldn’t punch it in. Collin Rogers hit a 20-yard field goal to make it 17-7 with 10:32 to go in the 1st half.

Oscar Adaway opened the UNT drive with a 15-yard run then a pass interference call on SMU put the ball at the SMU 46. UNT’s drive stalled, but an offsides call gave the Mean Green a manageable 4th and 4, which they converted. Adaway trotted in from seven yards out to make it a 17-14 SMU lead.

SMU took over and needed a 4th and 1 conversion to keep the drive going from its own 39. SMU got it with Tyler Lavine on a run. Stone scrambled and found Romello Brinson for a 1st down. Stone went deep to Knighton on 2nd down, but he dropped it, bringing up 3rd and 10. SMU couldn’t pick up the 1st down and turned it over on downs. SMU’s defense stepped up to force a stop to cap the 1st half.

Knighton opened the 2nd half with a 25-yard run. After that big gain, SMU’s offense stalled and punted the ball away. UNT took over at its own 22.

SMU got the ball back at the UNT 17 when Rogers fumbled. Lavine barreled in for a touchdown from five yards out to make it a 24-14 SMU lead with 11:08 to go in the 3rd quarter. Rogers turned the ball over on the ensuing drive, throwing an interception to Jahari Rogers.

Stone hit Brinson on 4th and 6 to convert, getting the ball inside the 10. SMU’s drive stalled and a 4th down pass from Stone fell incomplete, giving UNT the ball at its own 4. SMU’s defense was able to get a stop and forced a punt. SMU took over at its own 45.

After Roderick Daniels opened with a gain of 8, Lavine picked up a 1st down. Knighton ran for a big gain to the UNT 20 then took it in from 20 yards out to make it 31-14, Mustangs with 2:15 to go in the 3rd quarter.

On the next drive, UNT was able to move out near midfield, but ended up punting it away to the Mustangs. SMU took over at its own 23. Stone hit Dixon for another huge play, moving the ball to the UNT 25. Wheaton carried it in for the 38-14 SMU lead with 12:44 to play.

SMU’s defense got another stop then the offense took over and ran it down UNT’s throats. Johnson ran it eight times for 62 yards on the drive before Wheaton ran for a gain of four. Johnson came back in and capped a 10-play, 70-yard scoring drive that took 6:38 off the clock. SMU led 45-14 with 4 minutes to play.

UNT took over and moved the ball a bit on the Mustangs, getting to the SMU 29. Rogers threw a touchdown to Blair Conwright to make it 45-21, SMU with 1:27 to go. SMU picked up a 1st down on the ensuing drive and was able to take a knee, capturing the win.