Numbers and notes: SMU 34, Charlotte 16

[PonyPride]

SMU Postgame Notes – September 30, 2023
SMU 34, Charlotte 16
SMU (3-2, 1-0 American), Charlotte (1-4, 0-1 American)
Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas

NEXT GAME
At East Carolina - Thursday, October 12 – 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT – Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium – Greenville, N.C.
TV: ESPN
Radio: KLIF 570 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network

TEAM NOTES

Captains: Jake Bailey #12, WR, Sr.), Elijah Chatman (#40, DT, Sr.), Brandon Crossley (#1, S, Sr.), Tyler Lavine (#31, RB, Sr.), Jonathan McGill (#2, S, Sr.), Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Sr.), Preston Stone (#2, QB, So.)

SMU is 3-0 at home this season
21-4 at home since the start of the 2019 season
SMU has won 8 consecutive home conference openers
SMU is 6-1 in the past 7 AAC openers
SMU has scored 141 points in the three home games (47.0 average)


SMU had a season-high 228 rushing yards (was 209 vs La. Tech) and averaged 6.0 yards per carry
Most since 273 rushing yards at USF 11/12/22 (W, 41-23)

Jaylan Knighton was 11-150 rushing with a career-high tying 2TDs
Highest rushing total for a Mustang this season (was 128 by LJ Johnson Jr. vs La. Tech 9/2)
His 95-yard TD run ties for the second-longest run in SMU history
1. 96t - Kris Briggs vs. Tulsa, 2002 96t
2. 95t - C. Morrison/J. Jacobs vs. Texas, 1985
2. 95t - Jaylan Knighton, vs Charlotte 2023
The 95-yard run is third-longest in AAC history
97t - Ta’Zhawn Henry, Houston at South Florida, 11/6/21
96t - Adrian Killins Jr., UCF vs. Memphis, 9/30/17
95t - Jaylan Knighton, SMU vs. Charlotte, 9/30/23

Preston Stone was 14-23 passing for 135 yards with 2 TDs plus 9-20 rushing
TDs: Roderick Daniels Jr., RJ Maryland

SMU had 8 different players catch a pass, has had at least eight different players catch a pass in every game this season

SMU was 4-4 in the red zone

SMU was 8-14 on third down and 1-1 on fourth down (Preston Stone 23-yard TD pass to RJ Maryland)

SMU had 2 sacks and 8 TFLs
Sacks: Nelson Paul, Kori Roberson
TFLs: Nelson Paul (2.5), Jordan Miller (1), Alex Kilgore (1), Isaiah Nwokobia (1), Kori Roberson (1), Ahmad Walker (1), Elijah Chatman (0.5)
Isaiah Nwokobia had a career-high 9 tackles
Kobe Wilson had a team-high and career-high 10 tackles

ESPNU Highlights
Roderick Daniels Jr. 12-yard receiving TD from Preston Stone https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38532132
Jaylan Knighton 1-yard TD run https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38532213
Jaylan Knighton 95-yard TD run https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38532817
Full highlights https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38533898

SMU Highlights and Head Coach Rhett Lashlee postgame radio | SMU Radio Network on KTCK “The Ticket” 96.7 FM, 1310 AM (Rich Phillips pxp, Scott Garner analyst, Steve [deleted] sideline) – Credit: Learfield / SMU Radio Network

Highlights: https://bit.ly/3LELEmr
Lashlee postgame: https://bit.ly/3rASv9K

ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Ryan Bujcevski (#92, P, Sr.) – Ray Guy Award Watch List
3-137 punting, long of 54 with one inside the 20

Elijah Chatman (#40, DT, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
Had one tackle, including a half-TFL

Roderick Daniels Jr. (#13, WR, Jr.)
2-25 receiving with a TD (2nd TD of the season)

Branson Hickman (#56, C, Jr.) – Rimington Trophy Watch List
Has started 24 straight games that he has played (missed one game in 2022)

Jaylan Knighton (#4, RB, Sr.)
11-150 rushing with 2 TDs
Career-long 95-yard TD run (T-2nd longest in SMU history, 3rd longest in AAC history)
Tied career high 2 TDs

RJ Maryland (#82, TE, So.)
3-33 receiving with a TD (2nd TD of the season, 8th of his career)

Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, So.)
Career-high 9 tackles (was 8...), including a TFL

Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
DNP

Nelson Paul (#9, DE, Sr.)
Had 5 tackles, including 2.5 TFLs and a sack

Collin Rogers #41, K, So.)
4-4 on PATs, now 78-79 for his career
2-2 on FGs (22, 33)

Cale Sanders Jr, (#22, DB, Jr.)
Had his second career interception
Had 4 tackles and 2 pass breakups

Preston Stone (#2, QB, So.) - Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
14-23 passing for 135 yards and 2 TDs

Kobe Wilson (#24, LB, Jr.)
Team-high and career-high 10 tackles, also had a QB hurry

Charles Woods (#3, CB, Sr.)
3 tackles and a pass breakup