Inside The Mustangs

By The Numbers: SMU's Win Over Temple

Huge win over Owls leads to generational totals

Kent Smith

By The Numbers: SMU's Win Over Temple
By The Numbers: SMU's Win Over Temple /
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PHILADELPHIA – During SMU's 55-0 blowout of fellow AAC bunkmate Temple it became hard to watch at times. Quarterback Preston Stone singled out specific defenders and picked apart the Owls' defense with precision, the running game cranked up and never slowed, and the defense only gave up a single field goal attempt that sailed wide in the second blowout of the season.

The result was a series of overwhelming numbers that require a closer look. Several haven't been seen at SMU in decades. 

3

The number of quarterbacks who took the field in Philadelphia. Once Preston Stone was done torching Temple for 300 yards near the end of the third quarter, he stepped aside for South Oak Cliff's Kevin Jennings. However, it turned out he was too effective, leading the Mustangs on two long drives, throwing for a touchdown and running for another. That brought on Alex Padilla who spent most of the final minutes of the game perfecting his hand-offs to Zane Minor over, and over, and over again.

39

The number of years that have passed since the last time SMU won back-to-back road conference games. This one is a bit hard to comprehend, but such a simple feat hasn't taken place since the Ponies ran over Rice and Texas Tech in consecutive week blowouts way back in 1984. To put that in perspective, that was the same year Transformers debuted as a cartoon and action figures, three years before the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were invented and 16 years before Dora the Explorer became a thing. Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones, Gremlins and the Karate Kid ruled the box office.

11

The number of members of the Temple punt team Roderick Daniels weaved through as he made his way 67 yards up the right sideline, blowing past everyone for the final 25 yards.

7

Number of Mustangs who scored. Stone, Jennings and Jaylan Knighton each ran for a touchdown, Jordan Hudson and RJ Maryland each caught a touchdown pass, Daniels had his punt return for a touchdown and Collin Rogers kicked a field goal. By the time Stone ran for his 21-yard touchdown on a bootleg where not one Temple defender seemed to notice him until he crossed the goal line, time had long since passed for someone to throw in the towel for the Owls.

1

The number of wins left to be bowl eligible. Obviously, SMU coach Rhett Lashlee has no interest in merely getting to a bowl when the goal has been so heavily focused on bringing the Mustangs their first conference championship in 40 years, but a win over Tulsa next Saturday morning at Ford Field locks in consecutive bowl appearances for Lashlee. 

131

The total yards given up by the defense. Nothing happened in Philly to make anyone think SMU might lose its spot as the AAC's No. 1 overall defense and No. 1 pass defense. Four sacks, eight tackles for a loss, an interception, all while holding Temple to less than a yard per carry at 24 yards on 25 rushing attempts. It was brutal to watch. No matter how many back-ups were in, the push up the middle was there all night. 

2012

The last time SMU pitched a shutout in a conference game. That was a 17-0 shutout of UTEP back in the Conference USA days. It was also the same year much of the world was concerned doomsday was coming because of the end of the Mayan calendar. It would be another half a decade before the release of the Nintendo Switch and Alabama coach Nick Saban still hadn't won four of his national championships.

10

The number of players who caught a pass despite SMU spending much of the second half trying to end the game. In addition to Hudson, Maryland and Daniels catching passes, Romelo Brinson, Jake Bailey, Jordan Kerley, Camar Wheaton, Nelson Paul, Tyler Lavine and Micah Hilts had catches also.

124

The number of points scored in the two shutouts the Mustangs' defense has pitched this season. Two of the Top 10 most prolific shutouts in school history took place this season and are the only entries to the list since 1978. SMU defeated Prairie View A&M 69-0 in the school's second largest shutout of all time before the 55-0 shutout of Temple slipped in at No. 9. 

5

The number of games in a row the Owls have given up at least 40 points and 500 yards. The offense had put up 445 yards and 41 points before Stone was shut down late in the third quarter. By the time Jennings completed his first drive as a back-up, Temple had officially kept its streak alive by adding 507 yards to the equation. Once Padilla took a knee to mercifully end things, the Mustangs had put up 563 yards.

0

The number of third and fourth down conversions Temple was able to generate against the SMU defense. Going back to the game at East Carolina, the Mustangs have stopped teams from gaining a first down on 16 consecutive third and fourth down attempts.

PONY EXPRESS:

SMU BASKETBALL SCHEDULE LOADED, BUT WHICH GAMES TRULY AREN'T CAN'T MISS?

ONE ADVANTAGE TO ACC MOVE IS SAYING GOODBYE TO ALBATROSS THAT IS FRIDAY NIGHT SMU FOOTBALL GAMES

PLAYERS HAVE TO PRETEND THEY DON'T NOTICE ANOTHER AAC TEAM'S POOR RECORD, STAY FOCUSED AGAINST OWLS

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Kent Smith
KENT SMITH

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