SMU Holds On To Defeat Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Garrett Gilbert threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns, Traylon Shead ran for two more scores and SMU won its first American Athletic Conference game with a 34-29 victory over Memphis on Saturday afternoon.
Gilbert was 27-43 in the game as the Mustangs (2-4, 1-1 AAC) went out to a big lead in the first half and held on in the second half over the Tigers (1-5, 0-3 AAC).
Gilbert threw touchdown passes of 79 and 8 yards in the game. Shead ran for 83 yards and both of his touchdowns came on 1-yard runs.
Memphis quarterback Patrick Lynch completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Mose Frazier as time ran out for the final score.
SMU’s only score after halftime was a 31-yard field goal by Chase Hover, but the Mustangs already had built a sizeable advantage.
In the first half, Gilbert guided the Mustangs down the field and Shead finished a
pair of drives with 1-yard runs, helping SMU to a 31-3 lead at halftime.
Gilbert wasted no time getting the Mustang offense on track. After an opening pass completion, the SMU quarterback faked a throw to the right flat and then connected with Keenan Holman for a 79-yard score on the second play from scrimmage.
Gilbert would add another scoring pass to Collin LaGasse from 8 yards in the closing seconds of the half.
A 31-yard pass from Gilbert to Jeremy Johnson early in the second quarter set up a 1-yard run for Shead. Later, in the quarter, Gilbert completed a 16-yard pass to Darius Joseph to the 1, where Shead again scored.
Hover had a 37-yard field goal for SMU to complete the first-half scoring.
Memphis would end the game with 320 yards, compared to 460 for SMU.
It was the Memphis defense that would eventually get the Tigers into the end zone. Shead was running at the Mustang 15 when Coleman stripped the ball and headed the other way barely reaching the end zone for a touchdown late in the third quarter. Coleman’s other touchdown came when SMU’s JaBryce Taylor fielded a punt at his 22 and retreated, where he fumbled and Coleman headed in for another score.
SMU returns home next Saturday, Oct. 26 to host Temple at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Homecoming Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 2:00PM CT. Tickets can be purchased online at smumustangs.com.
