LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Kevin Jennings passes and rushes for a career-high, and Isaiah Nwokobia intercepts a pass in the end zone for a score with 2:23 left, giving SMU a double-digit lead. They made a comeback and defeated 22nd place Louisville 34th. Saturday -27 o’clock.
The Mustangs (5-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) never trailed and had another big win for the ACC newcomer, but a 24-13 halftime lead disappeared. This was after the score was tied at 27 entering the fourth quarter.
“Today we proved this is what we can do in the ACC,” said Jennings, who had 281 yards passing and 113 yards rushing. “I hope we can continue to do this and win.”
The Cardinals (3-2, 1-1) came back with JaCorey Brooks’ 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown and Donald Chaney’s 1-yard TD run in the third.
After a missed field goal in the third quarter and a punt on the first drive of the fourth, SMU took over at the 11th and overturned several Louisville penalties and a Brashard Smith fumble that Louisville recovered. Earned a winning score with the help of video review. This gave the Mustangs possession at number 13, Louisville was penalized for pass interference and offsides, and the ball went to number 1.
LJ Johnson scored a TD with 6:39 left.
The Cardinals drove into SMU territory, but Tyler Shaw was sacked for a 9-yard loss and threw a fourth-down pass in traffic that Nwokobia caught, clinching the Mustangs’ third straight victory. The win puts SMU in a battle for the ACC lead with Virginia and No. 15 Clemson.
“It’s really hard to win on the road in this conference,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “We were looking for a fast start and I’m proud of their accomplishments.”
Jennings made 21-of-27 on his first 13 attempts. He carried the ball 10 times, including one for a 59-yard touchdown.
Roderick Daniels Jr. scored on a 5-yard run and Preston Stone found Keyshawn Smith for a 10-yard TD.
Shaw completed 22 of 35 passes for 329 yards and two TDs, but was sacked three times and allowed a bad interception. The Cardinals lost their second straight game.
“This is on me and it’s on the coaches,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said. “The plan wasn’t good. It wasn’t executed. There were too many mistakes.”
Impact of public opinion polls
Louisville is expected to fall from the rankings with two consecutive losses, but SMU, which received four votes last week, could make a jump.
Take-out
SMU got off to a good start thanks to Jennings and appeared to be in control for more than two quarters, punting just once on its first six drives while the defense pressured Louisville throughout. The Mustangs’ momentum stalled after Rodgers’ second field goal, but they recovered, rejected the Cardinals’ fourth-down gamble, got a late score, and were shut out again.
Louisville continued to play catch-up from start to finish, but finally found its rhythm thanks to a big run by Isaac Brown that was the key to the comeback. Shaw’s ability to extend the play and find Brooks was huge, but his inability to kick a fourth down inside SMU territory came back to bite the Cardinals.
to the next
SMU visited Stanford on October 19th following the bye.
Louisville visits Virginia.
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