SMU Survives Early Mistakes, Slams Door On Virginia In 23-13 Win.
SMU · VirginiaIt wasn't always pretty, and some questionable fourth-down decisions made things unnecessarily difficult, but No. 24 SMU found a way to take care of business Saturday afternoon. Quarterback Kevin Jennings threw two touchdown passes, Kendrick Raphael rushed for 124 yards, and the Mustangs pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 23-13 victory over Virginia at Gerald J.
MORE: SMU's Fourth-Down Gambling Could Cost Mustangs Against Virginia Virginia dropped to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC.
Jennings completed 23 of 36 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, providing the steady leadership SMU needed after a frustrating opening half. The Mustangs moved the football effectively early but repeatedly struggled to finish possessions.
Lashlee's aggressive fourth-down approach contributed to the problems, including a failed fourth-and-1 attempt from SMU's own 34-yard line on the game's opening possession. Virginia briefly seized control in the second quarter when quarterback Beau Pribula scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Cavaliers a 7-3 advantage.
KEY POINTS
- SMU Survives Early Mistakes, Slams Door On Virginia In 23-13 Win.
- Kevin Jennings throws two touchdowns and Kendrick Raphael rushes for 124 yards as No. 24 SMU defeats Virginia 23-13 to improve to 5-1 and stay in the ACC race.
- The win improved SMU to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, keeping Rhett Lashlee's team firmly in the conference championship conversation.
- SMU extended its advantage to 16-10 on Baird's 26-yard field goal in the third quarter, but Virginia kicker Will Bettridge answered from 43 yards to cut the margin to three.