SMU Edges Nevada For First ACC Win
In a thrilling season opener that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the SMU Mustangs narrowly defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack 29-24 on Saturday night in Reno. The game, which marked SMU’s debut as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, proved to be a much tougher challenge than many anticipated.
The first half belonged to Nevada, who entered the game as 28-point underdogs. The Wolf Pack took a surprising 17-10 lead into halftime, stunning the heavily favored Mustangs. Nevada’s quarterback Brendon Lewis played a pivotal role, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities by passing for 132 yards and leading his team with 77 rushing yards.
Trailing 24-13 at the start of the fourth quarter, SMU mounted an impressive comeback. The Mustangs outscored Nevada 16-0 in the final period, demonstrating resilience and poise under pressure.
The turning point came with just over eight minutes left in the game. SMU’s defensive lineman Anthony Booker Jr. tackled Nevada’s quarterback in the end zone for a safety, bringing the Mustangs within a point. This play seemed to energize the SMU squad and set the stage for their final push.
With 3:31 left on the clock, SMU began their decisive drive from their own 17-yard line. Quarterback Preston Stone, who finished the game with 254 passing yards, connected with tight end R.J. Maryland for a 35-yard touchdown pass with just 1:18 remaining. This play sealed the victory for SMU and capped off an impressive performance by Maryland, who recorded eight receptions for 162 yards.
Despite the win, SMU’s performance raised some concerns. The Mustangs struggled with discipline, committing 11 penalties for 125 yards. Head coach Rhett Lashlee acknowledged these issues, stating, “That’s probably the most undisciplined game we’ve played since I’ve been here”.
Additionally, SMU’s two-quarterback system, featuring Stone and Kevin Jennings, showed mixed results. While Stone ultimately led the game-winning drive, the offense’s inconsistency throughout much of the game will likely be a point of focus for the coaching staff moving forward.
This close call against Nevada may serve as a wake-up call for SMU as they enter a challenging stretch of their schedule. With upcoming games against BYU, TCU, Florida State, and Louisville, the Mustangs will need to address their shortcomings quickly.
For Nevada, despite the heartbreaking loss, first-year head coach Jeff Choate found positives in his team’s performance. “I give a lot of credit to SMU,” Choate said. “That’s what a championship team does with their backs to the wall. They found ways to make plays with a veteran group like that”.
As SMU moves forward in their inaugural ACC season, this game will likely be remembered as a hard-fought victory that tested the Mustangs’ mettle and exposed areas for improvement. Only time will tell if this close call was an anomaly or a sign of challenges to come in their new conference.
