Getting stops: BYU football shuts down SMU, wins on late field goal
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- BYU senior defensive lineman Tyler Batty hits SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings during the non-conference game at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU sophomore linebacker Isaiah Glasker makes a sack during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU senior receiver Darius Lassiter runs the ball up the field during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU head coach Kalani Sitake gets fired up during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU fans cheer on their team during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU players celebrate with senior cornerback Marque Collins intercepted a pass during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU senior cornerback Jakob Robinson signals Cougar possession after he recovered a fumble during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU junior kicker Will Ferrin kicks the game-winning field goal during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU freshman tight end Ryner Swanson avoids a tackle during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU senior tight end Mata’ava Ta’ase hurdles a defender during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU sophomore running back Enoch Nawahine celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU sophomore safety Koa Eldridge (20) makes a tackle during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU senior cornerback Marque Collins intercepts a pass during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU junior running back Miles Davis runs the ball up the field during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU junior running back Miles Davis runs the ball up the field during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
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- BYU senior cornerback Marque Collins intercepts a pass during the non-conference game against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
Anyone who watched the 2022 New Mexico Bowl contest between BYU and SMU likely got a strong sense of déjà vu when watching Friday night’s rematch at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas.
In 2022, the Cougars got the lead but had to hold off a big Mustang comeback (including a stop on a late two-point conversion) to get the 24-23 win.
In 2024, once again the defenses took center stage, consistently holding the opposing offenses down throughout most of the game.
Both teams forced multiple turnovers, including costly ones when the opposing offense was in scoring position. It kept the scoring at a premium keeping the game exciting until the end.
With time winding down, BYU got a big fourth-down run on a speed option from junior running back Miles Davis. That set up Cougar junior kicker Will Ferrin up for a 25-yard field goal to put BYU up for good and give the visitors the thrilling 18-15 win.
SMU did have a chance to rally to tie or win, but — as it had all game — the Cougar defense kept the Mustangs from getting going. Four incompletions allowed BYU to run out the clock in victory formation.
BYU started strong, forcing the home team punt twice despite getting good field position off a Cougar fumble by junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff.
The BYU offense then stepped up, marching 75 yards on eight plays. Retzlaff hit senior tight end Mata’ava Ta’ase for a 16-yard touchdown to put the Cougars on top.
But that would be all the Cougar offense could manage for most of the rest of the first half, going three-and-out on five consecutive possessions.
But the BYU defense rose to the challenge even as the Mustangs had some offensive success. SMU could only manage a trio of field goals from junior Collin Rogers (53, 52 and 38 yards) to go into halftime up 9-7.
That script continued into the second half, where the Cougars turned the ball over on an interception but held the Mustangs to another field goal to stay within striking distance.
BYU finally got something going in the third quarter, thanks to some good runs by Retzlaff. The Cougars also ran a trick play where Retzlaff took a handoff after a direct snap, faked a reverse, then hit Ta’ase for a 26-yard game.
There was still a big decision for BYU head coach Kalani Sitake when his team faced a fourth-and-2 from the SMU 9-yard line, but Sitake went for it and sophomore running back Enoch Nawahine made the most of it. He rumbled in for the 9-yard score to put his team up, 15-12.
The two teams actually had a trio of costly turnovers in the fourth quarter, with SMU having a pass intercepted by BYU senior Marque Collins at the 5-yard line, only to have the Cougars give the ball back when Mustang senior Jared Harrison-Hunte sniffed out a screen and intercepted the pass.
His pick gave the SMU offense the ball at the BYU 3-yard line, but a holding penalty and tough Cougar defending ended up resulting in a Mustang fumble recovered by the visitors.
Rogers added a school-record fifth field goal of the game later in the final quarter, setting up the exciting finish.
BYU ended up winning the yardage battle (336-261 total yards) and had more yards on the ground as well (134-117).
The win ended the Cougars’ three-game losing streak in the state of Texas and five-game road losing streak, while also ending SMU’s nine-game home winning streak.
The Cougars will now get an extra day to prepare for next week’s game at Wyoming.
