SMU Football: Rhett Lashlee Applauds Kevin Jennings' Performance In Fenway Bowl Loss

#24 SMU ended the 2023 season with a 23-14 loss to Boston College in Thursday's Wasabi Fenway Bowl. Plain and simple, BC finished more drives than the Mustangs

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#24 SMU ended the 2023 season with a 23-14 loss to Boston College in Thursday's Wasabi Fenway Bowl. Plain and simple, BC finished more drives than the Mustangs did throughout the afternoon. 

"The way they played, they deserved to win more than we did," SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee noted postgame.

"First quarter, we didn't play great. Defense kept us in it. Had a good second quarter. In the third quarter, we had an opportunity to take control of the game. We didn't, got a kick blocked. From there, they really took control of that last quarter and a half of the game...We didn't make ourselves 

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Nobody likes to lose, but SMU had more than winning on their mind during the bowl game. For one, the game provided more vital game experience for Lashlee's redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Jennings. Jennings previously stepped up to replace redshirt sophomore Preston Stone after Stone broke his leg prior to the AAC championship game.

Jennings completed 24 for 48 for 191 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 51 yards on ten carries. Lashlee noted postgame that he was pleased with Jennings' effort and overall performance, considering the rainy Boston weather and the overall situation.

"I thought Kevin was great," Lashlee stated. "Obviously the opening drive, we turned the ball over. But that first half, specifically in the second quarter, it started raining pretty good. With the exception of that first drive, he did a really nice job throwing the football in the weather, in the elements. He did a nice job scrambling, keeping plays alive, made some big time throws, made some big time runs...Thought it was a gutty performance by Kev and I'm really proud of the way he competed."

SMU have completed their final season in the AAC. They will join the ACC in 2024, alongside Stanford and Cal. Stone will be a redshirt junior and provided he heals on schedule, should return to the starting role for the Mustangs in that campaign. As Jennings matures however, this experience should serve him well if his number is called again.