By: Nicholas Gilanfar
After a disappointing week two defeat against the Oklahoma Sooners, the SMU Mustangs headed back to Ford Stadium with a chip on their shoulder and pummeled the Prairie View Panthers 69-0 which was the program’s first shutout since their 52-0 victory over Stephen F. Austin on September 18, 2012.
The Mustangs’ defense had the Panthers’ number through the entirety of the game, forcing nine punts and logging three sacks on PVAMU Quarterback Trazan Connley. The Offense was also firing on all cylinders as nine different SMU players scored a touchdown led by QB Preston Stone’s stellar play going 15 of 20, 300 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.
In this week’s game against Prairie View, HC Rhett Lashlee was forced to take a different approach in the run game regarding the suspensions of Jaylan Knighton and Velton Gardner. Although LJ Johnson Jr. would have been the ideal answer to take the bulk of the running players it was RB Camar Wheaton who ran with the opportunity of extra playing time and exploded for 73 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries. Regarding the situation with Knighton and Gardner, it is possible they will suit up against TCU if they attend their scheduled classes.
First Quarter
Prairie View started the game with the ball as they were stunted right off the get-go by the Mustangs’ defense forcing a three-and-out. After Prairie View squanders their first drive opportunities, SMU takes advantage of things in this drive putting the ball in their courts while Preston Stone marched his offense down the field and eventually found WR Jordan Hudson for a fade in the endzone as SMU started their scoring marathon at 7-0.
Following the Jordan Hudson touchdown, Prairie View starts to find some momentum by having a drive of close to 50 yards supported by a 15-yard pass interference penalty by SMU. After a lengthy drive, PVAMU did not have enough in the tank for a touchdown so they had to settle for a field goal. They lined up for a 36-yard field goal and it was then blocked by the SMU defense and was returned for an SMU touchdown by Romello Brinson as they extended their lead 14-0.
Prairie View needs to get something going to stay in this game but fails to do so in the following drive getting the ball back and settling for another three and out. Luckily for PVAMU, they were able to pick off QB Preston Stone in the first play of that next drive, and the quarter ended from there.
Second Quarter
The second quarter went a lot like the first followed by PVAMU miscues and SMU dominance. The first play of the second quarter started off with a bang as Stone dropped back to find WR Broderick Daniels Jr. for a 91-yard touchdown reception to put the Mustangs up 21-0. Daniels Jr. has had a stellar start to the season as Rhett Lashlee uses him as their Swiss army knife being used as both a running back and wide receiver.
After the touchdown to Daniels Jr., It was obvious that PVAMU’s confidence was shot and was out of the game in the second quarter as they constantly would run the ball in third and long situations having little to no faith in their QB Trazan Connley. PVAMU was forced to punt on all three offensive drives. That was not the case for SMU, instead of punting the ball during all their offensive drives, they scored touchdowns in all four of their drives extending a 42-0 lead at the half.
Third Quarter
After many heavy blows taken by the Prairie View defense, it did not stop there as SMU started with the ball and eventually found themselves in the endzone for the seventh time of the game with a 59-yard touchdown to WR Jordan Kerley, which ended QB Preston Stone’s night with 13 minutes left in the third quarter leading the game 49-0.
Although Stone’s night ended early, SMU was granted a chance to see redshirt freshman QB from South Oak Cliff Kevin Jennings. They put Jennings out there for two drives, as he was 3 of 3 with 60 yards and two touchdowns relying on the running game to run down the clock. When Jennings had his number called, he executed and made plays levitating the SMU Lead to 63-0.
Fourth Quarter
After finishing the third quarter Kevvin Jennings night was over as the fourth quarter was played by QB3 Alex Padilla and QB4 Keldric Luster. For the first drive of the fourth quarter, SMU scored their tenth and final touchdown of the game with RB Camar Wheaton leading the game 69-0. After the Wheaton touchdown, we had eight minutes of scoreless football resulting in two more PVAMU punts and SMU’s first punt of the ball game.
SMU Beat Prairie View 69-0
SMU Stats
QB Preston Stone: 15/20, 300 yards, five TDs, one INT
RB Camar Wheaton: 16 Rush, 75 yards, one TD
WR Roderick Daniels Jr.: three Receptions, 96 yards, one TD
WR Jordan Kerley: three receptions, 83 yards, two TDs
DT Kori Roberson Jr.: four Tackles, one Sack, two Tackle-For-Loss
LB Alex Kilgore: four tackles
Offensive Player of the Game: WR Jordan Kerley
Before the season, Kerley was poised for an illustrious year being the WR1 on the depth chart. Through the first two games, Kerley had a slow start logging only four receptions for 19 yards being outshined by the likes of the rejuvenated WR corps. Kerley silenced the critics as he had an outstanding game today having three receptions, 83 yards, and two touchdowns. Although Prairie View did not match up well with the Mustangs, it was still refreshing to see Kerley put up this kind of production.
Defensive Player of the Game: DT Kori Roberson Jr.
Kori Roberson Jr. has been making statement players all year starting with his big man pick-six in the season opener against Louisiana Tech. Before today he only had one tackle on the year. Against Prairie View, he tallied four tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss making his presence felt on the defensive line. Roberson is a transfer from OU, as it seems like he has officially found his footing in this defense and will have a huge role moving forward into the season.
Next Game: Saturday, September 23 @ TCU
Featured Image via Jordan Hofediz/247Sports