Numbers and notes: SMU 36, Rice 31

[PonyPride]

SMU Postgame Notes – November 4, 2023
[-/rv] SMU 36, Rice 31
SMU (7-2, 5-0 American), Rice (4-5, 2-3 American)
Rice Stadium – Houston, Texas

NEXT GAME
North Texas - Friday, November 10 – 8pm CT – Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network App

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 5-0 in conference play this season and 10-3 in AAC games under Rhett Lashlee
First 5-0 start in conference play since starting 7-0 in 1982 (went 7-0-1 in the SWC)

SMU has won 6 straight AAC games, including 5 this season
First time SMU has won 5 straight conference games in the same season since 1997
Longest conference winning streak since 7 straight overlapping the 1983 and 1984 seasons

Collin Rogers made a career-long 51-yard FG with 2:49 left to put SMU up 36-31 then Isaiah Nwokobia had an interception with 1:07 left to seal the victory

SMU had a season-high 3 takeaways (2 interceptions, 1 fumble)
Fifth straight game SMU defense has at least one interception
Multiple takeaways in 3 of the past 4 games

SMU held Rice to 2-12 on third downs (entered the game leading the AAC and 10th in FBS at 29.3% allowed)

SMU had 4 sacks, 9 TFLs, 4 pass breakups, 5 QB hurries with a season-high 3 takeaways (2 interceptions, 1 fumble)
Sacks: Elijah Roberts (2.5 - career high), Elijah Chatman (1.5)
Now have 31 sacks on the season, T-5th in a season at SMU
TFLs: Elijah Roberts (2.5), Jonathan McGill (2), Ahmad Walker (2), Elijah Chatman (1.5), Jordan Miller (1)
Fumble Recoveries: Nelson Paul
Forced Fumbles: Elijah Roberts (sack), Cale Sanders Jr.
Interception: Kobe Wilson, Isaiah Nwokobia (2nd straight game with an interception for Nwokobia)

SEASON SACKS

1 — 2019 — 51.0
2 — 1981 — 42.0
3 — 1983 — 36.0
4 — 2011 — 34.0
5 — 1979 — 31.0
2006 — 31.0
2017 — 31.0
2023 — 31.0

SMU had 484 yards of total offense (261 passing, 223 rushing) and held Rice to 290
SMU has held 6 opponents under 300 total yards

SMU had 223 yards rushing and 2 rushing TDs (Preston Stone, Tyler Lavine)
4th game this season with over 200 rushing yards (season high is 228 vs Charlotte)
Had 3 different rushers over 50 yards for the first time this season (Preston Stone 81, LJ Johnson 73, Jaylan Knighton 55)
Multiple rushing TDs in 6 of past 7 games

Preston Stone was 15-28 passing for 224 yards with 2 TDs and 8-81rushing (career high yards) with a TD
Had a career-high 81 rushing yards, including 2 of the 3 longest runs of his career (34 yards 1st, 20-yard TD 3rd)
TDs: Roderick Daniels Jr. (34 yards), Jordan Hudson (30 yards)

SMU led 14-7 after the first quarter and outgained Rice 204 to -1 (Rice did not have a first down in the opening quarter)
Lowest first quarter yards allowed since -5 vs Pittsburgh in the Compass Bowl on 1/7/12
Has scored at least 14 points in the 1st Qtr in 7 of 9 games
Has outscored AAC opponents 84-10 in the first quarter and has not allowed an offensive TD (Rice blocked punt return TD)

ESPN Highlights
Elijah Chatman sack https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819122
LJ Johnson Jr. 19-yard rush https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819238
Preston Stone 34-yard TD pass to Roderick Daniels Jr. https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819243
Preston Stone 20-yard rush TD https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819292
Jaylan Knighton 13-yard rush https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819308
Preston Stone 30-yard TD pass to Jordan Hudson https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819707
Preston Stone 34-yard rush https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819924
Tyler Lavine 3-yard rushing TD https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819974
Full Highlights https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/ida/38820713

Rhett Lashlee postgame: https://bit.ly/3QxN5F0

Series History vs Rice: SMU is now 49-41-1
SMU wins the Mayor’s Cup

SMU RECORDS

Collin Rogers #41, K, So.)
3-3 on PATs, now 101-102 for his career
3-4 FGs (made 41, 37, career-long 51; missed 48)
Career-high 3 FGs made

SMU CAREER POINTS
1 — Doak Walker, 1945, 47-49 — 288
Eric Dickerson, 1979-82 — 288
Xavier Jones, 2015-19 — 288
4 — Zach Line, 2009-12 — 282
5 — Eddie Garcia, 1978-81 — 262
6 — Reggie Dupard, 1982-85 — 258
7 — Chase Hover, 2011-13 — 250
8 — James Proche, 2016-19 — 238
9 — Thomas Morstead, 2005-08 — 217
10 — Redman Hume, 1926-28 — 211
11 — Emmanuel Sanders, 2006-09 — 210
12 — Kyle Rote, 1948-50 — 194
13 — Courtland Sutton, 2014-17 — 192
14 — Collin Rogers, 2022- 188

SMU CAREER FGs
1 — Eddie Garcia, 1978-81 — 44
2 — Chase Hover, 2011-13 — 44
3 — Thomas Morstead, 2005-08 — 37
4 — Chris McMurtray, 2002-05 — 36
5 — Josh Williams, 2015-17 — 31
6 — Brandy Brownlee, 1984-86 — 30
7 — Collin Rogers, 2022- — 29

Preston Stone (#2, QB, So.) - Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, Davey O’Brien Class of 2023, Manning Award Watch List
15-28 passing for 224 yards and 2 TDs plus 8-81 rushing with a TD
Career-high 81 rushing yards
305 yards of total offense, 4th straight game over 300
3 rushing TDs this season, 5 in his career

SEASON TD PASSES
1 — Tanner Mordecai, 2021 — 39
2 — Shane Buechele, 2019 — 34
3 — Ben Hicks, 2017 — 33
Tanner Mordecai, 2022 — 33
5 — Kyle Padron, 2010 — 31
6 — Justin Willis, 2006 — 26
7 — Justin Willis, 2007 — 25
8 — Bo Levi Mitchell, 2008 — 24
9 — Shane Buechele, 2020 — 23
10 — Chuck Hixson, 1968 — 21
Garrett Gilbert, 2013 — 21
Preston Stone, 2023 — 21

ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Jake Bailey (#12, WR, Sr.)
4-73 receiving (one yard short of season high)

Ryan Bujcevski (#92, P, Sr.) – Ray Guy Award Watch List
1-39 punting

Elijah Chatman (#40, DT, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
Had 4 tackles including 1.5 sacks
Has 3.5 sacks in the past 3 games

Roderick Daniels Jr. (#13, WR, Jr.)
2-42 receiving with a TD
4 TDs this season, 8 for his career

Branson Hickman (#56, C, Jr.) – Rimington Trophy Watch List
Has started 28 straight games that he has played (missed one game in 2022)

Jordan Hudson (#8, WR, So.)
3-37 receiving with a TD
5 TDs this season

Jaylan Knighton (#4, RB, Sr.)
11-55 rushing and 1-28 receiving
Season-long 28-yard reception

Tyler Lavine (#31, RB, Sr.)
2-7 rushing with a TD
21st rushing TD of his career

Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, Jr.)
3 tackles and an interception
2nd straight game with an interception

Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
37th start at SMU (40 games played)

Nelson Paul (#9, DE, Sr.)
2 tackles
Had a fumble recovery, 3rd of his career

Elijah Roberts (#5, DE, Sr.)
Career-high tying 5 tackles with a career-high 2.5 sacks

Ahmad Walker (#34, LB, Jr.)
Had 5 tackles, including 2 TFLs

Kobe Wilson (#24, LB, Jr.)
Team-high 7 tackles
First career interception