Canes Fall to Mustangs in Overtime

DALLAS — After the Miami Hurricanes and SMU Mustangs slogged through a dreary first half in Big D, the sun came out at halftime. So, too did the fireworks.

A scintillating second half gave way to overtime, where the Mustangs forced a turnover and followed it up with the game-winning touchdown to defeat the Canes 26-20 Saturday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

No. 10 Miami fell to 6-2 overall, 2-2 in ACC play. SMU improved to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play.

The Canes outgained the Mustangs 433-388 in total yards – holding SMU to just 23 yards on the ground — and held a 14-minute margin in time of possession. But Miami’s 12 penalties and two turnovers proved costly as the Mustangs won the game and their fans rushed the field.

Quarterback Carson Beck completed 26 of 38 passes for 274 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back Mark Fletcher rushed 16 times for 84 yards. Wide receiver Malachi Toney hauled in nine passes for 70 yards, adding a 47-yard punt return. Wide receiver JoJo Trader caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Keelan Marion had five catches for 77 yards.

Safety Jakobe Thomas paced Miami with nine tackles, while cornerback Keionte Scott recorded eight stops, one sack, one fumble recovery and two tackles for loss. Linebacker Mohamed Toure also registered eight tackles.

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 29 of 44 passes for 365 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Jordan Hudson hauled in 11 passes for 136 yards. Fellow wideout Yamir Knight had four catches for 47 yards and a score. Safety Ahmaad Moses led the Mustangs with 15 tackles and had both interceptions. Running back T.J. Harden scored the game-winning touchdown in the extra session on a one-yard run.

SMU forced a Miami punt to start the game and Dylan Joyce backed up the Mustangs at their own 10. Jennings connected with running back Derrick McFall for 24 yards down the right sideline to move the ball across midfield and then SMU faced a 4^th and 1 at the Canes 46. But Jennings fumbled the handoff exchange and Scott recovered to put Miami’s offense back on the field.

The Canes took advantage. Fletcher picked up 18 yards on three carries before Beck threw a laser to Trader, who cradled it and somersaulted into the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown. Miami led 7-0.

SMU wide receiver Link Rhodes returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to the Mustangs 43, but the Canes’ defense forced a three-and-out. Fletcher burst up the middle for 11 yards before corralling a screen pass from Beck for 12 yards to the Miami 45. On 3^rd and 5, Beck found Trader again, this time down the right sideline for 25 yards. But two penalties pushed Miami back and the Mustangs got the ball back at their 20.

On the next snap Jennings threw deep down the middle to wide receiver Romello Brinson for 41 yards to the Canes 39. Miami’s defense held from there. Sam Keltner hit the crossbar from 54 yards out but SMU was called for delay of game, so the Mustangs punted back to the Canes, who took over at their 12-yard line.

Trader couldn’t cradle a long pass from Beck and the ball fell into the hands of Moses, who returned the theft to the Miami 28. On the next play Jennings found a wide open Knight in the left corner of the end zone. The game was tied at 7-7.

Late in the first half, defensive tackle Armando Blount and defensive end Marquise Lightfoot combined to sack Jennings, which forced SMU to punt from its end zone. Toney returned the punt 47 yards to the Mustangs’ nine-yard line.

Three plays later Beck hit tight end Elija Lofton in the end zone, but linebacker Brandon Miyazono jarred the ball loose. Miami settled for a 22-yard field goal from Carter Davis and carried a 10-7 lead into the locker room.

After having a fumble by Jennings overturned by replay review on the first play of the second half, SMU marched down the field to take the lead. Jennings completed 5 of 6 passes and punctuated the 79-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run. The Mustangs were up 14-10.

But the Canes answered with their own scoring march. Beck hit Toney for 18 yards and a roughing the passer penalty moved the ball to the SMU 18. Fletcher bullied his way to a 14-yard run and Beck lofted a four-yard scoring toss to tight end Alex Bauman. Miami was back on top by three points.

The Canes got the ball right back and Beck converted a 3^rd and 8 with a 16-yard pass to Marion. Miami moved the ball to the SMU 29 and went for it on 4^th and 1, but the Mustangs’ defense stuffed Fletcher short of the sticks. Jennings drove SMU down to the Canes 26, where Keltner converted a 43-yard field goal to knot the score at 17 with seven seconds left in the third quarter.

Beck and company marched to the Mustangs 26 but were again stopped on short yardage. Davis trotted back out and nailed a 45-yard field goal to put the Canes back up by three points.

Jennings connected with McFall down the middle for 27 yards and followed with a 20-yard completion to Hudson. But a holding penalty thwarted the drive and Keltner attempted a 42-yard field goal. This time he missed and the Canes got the ball back with 6:24 left.

Miami gained a first down but two penalties then forced them into a 3^rd and 15. Beck calmly completed a 16-yard pass to Marion to move the chains. SMU called their final timeout with 2:23 remaining. Beck threw incomplete on 3^rd and 8 and the Mustangs had one last opportunity, taking over at their 10-yard line.

Two snaps later Jennings found Hudson down the right sideline for 29 yards. Lightfoot was whistled for an unnecessary roughness penalty, which moved the ball to the Miami 37. Jennings hit Knight for 11 yards, but a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 36 with 47 seconds remaining. Jennings got some of the yardage back with an 11-yard pass to Hudson. It was 4^th and 5 and Keltner returned to the field. This time he drilled a 38-yarder and the Canes and Mustangs headed for overtime.

SMU won the toss and elected to start off on defense. Running back Marty Brown rushed four straight times for 18 yards and Miami faced a 3^rd and 6 from the seven-yard line. Moses picked off Beck at the goal line and the Mustangs took over needing only a field goal to win.

After Jennings picked up five yards, Harden rushed five straight times, the last a one-yard run to the end zone.

The Canes return home next Saturday for a Homecoming matchup at Hard Rock Stadium against Syracuse. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.