SMU can't capitalize on opportunities, falls to OU 28-11

SMU had opportunities on offense to make plays, but couldn’t capitalize on an impressive defensive showing against Oklahoma on Saturday. The Mustangs fell to the Sooners, 28-11.

Here’s the play-by-play recap of the second game of the season for the Mustangs.

SMU kicked off to Oklahoma and the Sooners took over at their own 31. Marcus Major opened with a 6-yard gain then Andrel Anthony dropped a pass. After a 1st down by Oklahoma, Jonathan McGill made a tackle behind the line of scrimmage on a swing pass to Major. The Sooners punted to SMU.

SMU took over at its own 15. After a short run, Moochie Dixon caught a ball for a 1st down. After a short run, Roderick Daniels was running free down the field, but Preston Stone overshot him. The Mustangs punted after an incomplete pass, but it was blocked. The Sooners took over at the SMU 40.

After picking up a 1st down, Dillon Gabriel hit Anthony for a 29-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead with 10:39 to play in the 1st quarter.

Stone hit Romello Brinson for a 29-yard pickup and Jake Bailey for a 30-yard gain to put the Mustangs in the redzone. After a hit on Stone, linebacker Danny Stutsman was reviewed for targeting, but not ejected. After a short run, Stone couldn’t connect with Dixon. Colin Rogers kicked a field goal to make it 7-3 with 8:43 to go in the 1st quarter.

After a holding call, Gabriel scrambled for 10 yards. After a 4-yard gain by Major, Elijah Chatman sacked Gabriel to force the punt. SMU took over at its own 34.

After a holding call on RJ Maryland, SMU lost right guard Justin Osborne to injury. After a Daniels carry, Stone hit Bailey, who was short of the line to gain. SMU punted it away. Oklahoma took over at its own 20.

Anthony picked up a 1st down for the Sooners at the 30. Gabriel scrambled for a 1st down to the Sooners 41. From there, Oklahoma’s drive sputtered and SMU took over at its 12 after a punt.

After a 8-yard LJ Johnson run, Bailey caught a screen from Stone and picked up the 1st down. Bailey and Stone connected for another 1st down. After a run and another Bailey catch, a huge 3rd and 1 started the 2nd quarter for SMU. Johnson barreled ahead to pick up the 1st down. After a Gardner run, that brought up 3rd and 6 for SMU. Maryland and Stone couldn’t connect, which brought up 4th and 6. Stone punted to pin the Sooners at the 6.

After a 1st down run by Tawee Walker, Gabriel hit Anthony for another 1st down. Walker then picked up another 1st down out to the Sooners 40. Walker had another massive that got OU into SMU territory. Jalil Farooq caught a 1st down pass. Walker ran again to get the Sooners inside the redzone. OU then hit Blake Smith for a touchdown to take a 14-3 lead.

Stone hit Maryland for a then Knighton ran for 4 yards to bring up 3rd and 2. He was just short on 3rd down then SMU went for it and Stone hit Knighton for a 1st down on a pass. After two incomplete passes, it brought up 3rd and 10 from the OU 47. Stone carried for eight yards to bring up another 4th down. Stone threw to Maryland, but he couldn’t hang on and OU took over.

SMU was able to get a stop to force a punt and took over on its own 12. Knighton opened with a 1st down run for 11. Stone hit Dixon for a pickup to the Mustangs 43. Knighton picked up a 1st down at the OU 44. Stone hit Key’Shawn Smith for a 1st down to the OU 33. On 3rd and 9, Stone threw it away. Rogers missed a 49-yard field goal to give OU the ball on its own 32 with 13 seconds left. After two OU plays, that brought the end of the 1st half with the Sooners leading 14-3.

SMU opened with a flea flicker, but it went nowhere, losing two yards. Stone hit Bailey for a minimal gain, bringing up 3rd and 10. Stone threw it incomplete toward Tyler Lavine. Ryan Bujcevski boomed a punt and an OU penalty backed them up to their own 21.

Oklahoma quickly drove out to near midfield thanks to Walker picking up chunks of yards. SMU’s defense held once again, forcing a punt. SMU took over at its own 15.

Stone hit Brinson to the SMU 34 for a 1st down. Knighton picked up five yards on the next play. Knighton exploded for a huge run, but fumbled looking for extra yards and the Sooners recovered at their 38. The Sooners used Walker to pick up another 1st down and then Arnold surged for a 1st down to get OU deep into SMU territory. Arnold came in for another 4th down and was marked short, giving the Mustangs the ball back.

SMU took over at its own 18 and Johnson ran for four yards to start things off. Dixon caught another pass out to the SMU 33. After Johnson was stuffed, Stone missed Kerley, bringing up 3rd and 11. Stone and Kerley connected for a 1st down to the SMU 45. SMU drove to the OU 48, bringing up a 4th and 3 to start the 4th quarter. A pass interference call extended the drive for the Mustangs.

After a strong run from Knighton for a 1st down, SMU picked up more yardage due to a sideline infraction. Daniels lost two yards on a reverse then Knighton picked up two yards. On 3rd and 9 from the 10, Maryland drew a pass interference call in the endzone. On the next play, Stone hit Stone Eby for a touchdown, making it 14-10. On the 2-point conversion, Stone hit Bailey to make it 14-11 with 12:09 to go.

The Sooners picked up two quick 1st downs thanks to a Walker catch and run then Anthony from Gabriel. That got OU out to midfield. Major picked up an OU 1st down to the SMU 29. After an OU penalty negated a touchdown, Gabriel hit Drake Stoops for a 1st down. Gabriel hit Farooq for a 21-yard touchdown pass to take a 21-11 lead.

SMU got the ball and went 4-and-out, giving the Sooners the ball on the SMU 30. The Sooners scored a touchdown with 6:40 to go from Gabriel to Major, who ran it in from 27 yards out to give OU a 28-11 lead.

After Bryan Massey let the kickoff drop inside the 5, SMU took over at its 8. The Mustangs faced a 4th and 1, picking it up with a Stone to Maryland completion. Stone moved SMU into OU territory, thanks to a 1st down, but he threw an interception. That sealed SMU’s fate, losing 28-11.