With Tanner Mordecai unable to play due to a concussion suffered last week, Preston Stone got his first start for Southern Methodist University (SMU) against Tulsa. Stone wasted no opportunity and even less time, hitting Rashee Rice on the game’s first play for a 75-yard touchdown. SMU took control and never trailed in the game.
Stone threw 11-of-17 for 219 yards and had four rushes for 24 yards but recorded only the opening touchdown.
Late in the game, third-string QB Kevin Jenkins got field time, completing eight passes on 11 attempts and hitting his first NCAA touchdown pass, a six-yard score to Rice late in the game.
Rice was busy all day, racking up 180 yards on nine receptions and scoring two touchdowns. Austin Upshaw also had three catches, including a 38-yarder. Moochie Dixon also had a 33-yard catch in the game.
On top of putting 310 yards passing on the Tulsa defense, the Mustangs rushed for 158 yards, led by Tyler Lavine, who rushed 17 times for 72 yards and three touchdowns. Velton Gardner carried 18 times, picking up 47 yards in the process.
Tulsa made a late rally, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to close in from a 45-20 score in the third quarter, set up by a Golden Hurricanes fumble, scooped up by Mustangs defensive tackle Elijah Chatman who galloped 23 yards for a defensive score.
The Mustangs also committed a fumble late in the game when Kevin Jennings put the ball on the ground. The Golden Hurricanes managed to turn the mistake into points, scoring for the final time on the next drive.
Tulsa’s final effort was derailed by a missed field goal and a drive that ended on downs in the fourth quarter. Tyler Tipton missed a 45-yard attempt that would have narrowed the Mustangs’ lead to a single score. After forcing a three and out, the Golden Hurricanes’ last effort ended in a net -2 yards when Jimmy Phillips Jr. recorded a sack on Tulsa QB Braylon Braxton.
Davis Brin got the start for Tulsa as the quarterback and completed seven of 16 passes and one touchdown before being replaced by Braxton late in the game. The Golden Hurricanes have not reported an injury to the player. Braxton finished with better numbers, completing 8-of-14 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Both quarterbacks rushed for a touchdown and threw no interceptions.
The Hurricanes largely stuck with a balanced attack, feeding Deneric Prince and Jordan Ford as the primary backs. Prince recorded 86 yards on 19 carries, and Ford had 78 yards on eight carries against the SMU defense.
The early lead let SMU largely coast to victory over Tulsa. The Mustangs were up by two scores five minutes into the game and had a 24-7 lead at the half.
SMU is now 4-4 and 2-2 in the ACC. The Mustangs will face the University of Houston on November 5 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas.
