• 2 months ago
In a commanding performance Saturday night, the SMU Mustangs cruised to a 42-16 victory over the Florida State Seminoles at Gerald Ford Stadium. Led by quarterback Kevin Jennings’ impressive aerial assault and a stifling defensive effort, SMU delivered one of their most complete performances of the season.

Offensive Firepower Fuels SMU’s Victory

The Mustangs amassed 458 total yards, with a balanced offensive attack that featured 254 passing yards and 204 rushing yards. Jennings was the driving force behind SMU’s offense, throwing for 254 yards and three touchdowns, keeping the Seminoles’ defense on its heels throughout the night. Jennings’ accuracy and ability to extend plays allowed SMU to dominate the time of possession and consistently move the chains, racking up 23 first downs.

Running back Jaylan Knighton complemented Jennings with a strong rushing performance, while wide receivers Rashee Rice and Jordan Kerley found the end zone to cap off big plays through the air.

Defensive Playmakers Rise to the Occasion

SMU’s defense was equally potent, suffocating Florida State’s offense, especially in the run game. The Seminoles managed only 63 rushing yards, forcing quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to carry the load through the air. Uiagalelei threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns but was plagued by three interceptions, one of which proved to be a turning point in the game.

In the second quarter, SMU linebacker Kobe Wilson picked off Uiagalelei and returned the interception 82 yards for a touchdown, giving the Mustangs a commanding 21-3 lead. Wilson’s pick-six sent the home crowd into a frenzy and helped seal Florida State’s fate early on.

Seminoles Struggle to Find Offensive Rhythm

Florida State’s offense struggled to establish any consistency throughout the game. The team managed just 13 first downs, and while Uiagalelei found brief success with two touchdown passes in the second half, the three interceptions stifled any chance of a comeback. The Seminoles’ inability to run the ball compounded their issues, as SMU’s defense kept them in check on the ground all night.

Looking Ahead

With the victory, SMU improves to 3-1 on the season and gains valuable momentum as they prepare for a tough matchup against Louisville next Saturday. The Mustangs’ ability to execute on both sides of the ball will be crucial as they continue to navigate their schedule and push toward a conference title.

Meanwhile, Florida State will need to regroup after falling to 2-2. Uiagalelei will look to bounce back from a tough night, as the Seminoles aim to fix their offensive struggles before their next contest.

The Mustangs’ victory in front of a packed crowd at Gerald Ford Stadium serves as a statement win and a sign of their growing confidence as the season progresses.

Category

🥇
Sports
Transcript
00:00First ACC appearance, first ACC win.
00:08SMU destroyed Florida State 42-16 at Gerald Ford Stadium.
00:13SMU now leads the league in non-offensive touchdowns and have forced 14 turnovers in
00:18the last four games.
00:19Linebacker Kobe Wilson stayed in the post game presser.
00:22Last year we got at it, but this year we are more dominant and ready to be consistent on
00:27those turnovers and it's showing.
00:29Last year we took pride in taking the ball away, but this year we knew we were going
00:32to take the ball away and now we have to score with it.
00:34So we take pride in not just taking the ball, but being the top scoring defense in the league
00:38and that's going to help us win football games at the end of the day.
00:40SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for 254 yards in three touchdowns.
00:45This was Jennings' career high in passing touchdowns.
00:48This was the game that was circling in our schedule, when the schedule released, the
00:52FSU, the former champions of the ACC, so we were looking forward to that game and I mean
00:56was hoping to come in and put the performance that we did and that's what we did.
01:00The Mustangs will now hit the road and head on up to Louisville to take on the Cardinals
01:05next Saturday.
01:06Tip-off is set for 11 a.m.
01:08For all things SMU and D210 sport updates, stay tuned every Wednesday and Thursday nights,
01:13Channel 15 on Spectrum Cable.
01:15I'm Maria Turner and you've just been Credentialed.

Recommended