Stone-to-Maryland connection propels SMU to a 29-24 victory against a discontented Nevada
RENO, Nev. — – Preston Stone connected with a 35-yard touchdown catch for RJ Maryland just 1:08 remaining in the fourth period. Southern Methodist avoided an upset in the opening game of the season by winning against Nevada 29-24 on the night of Saturday.
A close four-touchdown winner, SMU needed a fourth-quarter fightback to get through the opening game of its debut season as a part of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“I think as a collective we struggled in the first half,” Stone stated. “The defensive team did a great job in the beginning of preventing stops. We (the offensive) were slowing down.”
He continued: “Unfortunately for Nevada they played man against RJ, and they just can’t do that.”
In a 24-13 deficit, the SMU comeback got underway with just 10 minutes remaining and the Mustangs stuck at the 10-yard mark. Third down and the ball was short Stone completed a 49 yard touchdown pass to Maryland. SMU ended the drive by scoring the Brashard Smith four-yard touchdown run as well as a two-point conversion to bring the score close to 24-21.
On the next play, SMU defensive lineman Anthony Booker Jr. The lineman threw a punch at Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis in the end zone to secure a safety, bringing the Mustangs to within one point with just eight minutes remaining during the match.
SMU started its winning run at the 17-yard mark with 3:31 remaining.
The nine-play, 83-yard drive was concluded with Maryland’s decisive catch. SMU’s junior tight end, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and son of the former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Russell Maryland ended the game with eight catches for 162 yards.
Stone completes 17 of his 30 passes to gain 254 yards and a the score and interception.
Penalties were a major problem for penalties afflicted the Mustangs which forced the team to go behind throughout in the 4th quarter. The Mustangs faced 11 penalties totaling 150 yards, with one unsportsmanlike foul for spitting which led to an expulsion from Cornerback Brandon Crossley in the third quarter.
“It’s not who we are and who we want to be,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee told the media. “I will look at the film… anything out of character will be addressed.”
It opened a way and allowed to allow the Wolf Pack to continue a 15-play drive, and then get a lead of 24-13 with just 3:23 remaining on the clock in third.
“That’s probably the most undisciplined game we’ve played since I’ve been here,” Lashlee stated. “Self-inflicted wounds that made it really hard on our offense in the first half to get anything going.”
Lewis was the leader of his team Wolf Pack in its near loss, throwing 14 passes over 26 attempts to gain 132 yards. Lewis also led in the Wolf Pack with 77 rushing yards. He also had success all through the game, especially on draws by the quarterback.
“I give a lot of credit to SMU,” first-year Nevada head coach Jeff Choate said. “That’s what a champion team does when their backs are toward the ground. They came up with ways to make plays when they were a group of veterans similar to that. I felt there were plenty of positives that came from this experience for our players However, I do think we still have some progress to take towards maturing as a team.”
Nevada started the scoring on Lewis the 5-yard touchdown catch towards tight end Jace Henry with just a minute remaining in the opening quarter. SMU responded by launching a 10-play offensive in the second half which was capped off by a one-yard run by L.J. Johnson Jr.
Nevada as well as SMU both hit field goals during the second quarter, but Lewis the 10-yard touchdown pass at Cortez Braham Jr. with 9 seconds left in the first half, an SMU Wolf Pack a 17-10 lead at halftime.
—— Receive alerts about the most recent AP Top 25 poll throughout the entire season. Sign up here —— AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football