Box Score | Postgame Notes
Video Highlights

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Preston Stone threw three touchdown passes, Jonathan McGill returned an interception for a touchdown and SMU beat ECU 31-10 Thursday night in a defensive battle.

The teams combined for 16 three-and-outs and 20 punts.

Stone, who finished 19-of-38 passing for 276 yards with no interceptions, threw 21-yard TD pass to Key'Shawn Smith with 7:09 left in the first quarter and, after the Pirates went three-and-out, connected with Roderick Daniels Jr. for a 24-yard touchdown about 2 minutes later that gave SMU (4-2, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) a 14-0 lead.

Javious Bond suffered an apparent lower-body injury on the opening kickoff and did not return for ECU (1-5, 0-2). The freshman who went into the game leading the team in yards per carry (6.7) — as well as special teams tackles (four) — and second in rushing yards (187).

SMU went three-and-out on each of its first three second-half drives (with zero net yards) and, after the its fourth possession stalled at the ECU 21, Collin Rogers pulled a 38-yard field goal-attempt wide left with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. Kobe Wilson ripped the ball from the hands of Alex Flinn on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving SMU possession at the Pirates 32 before. After two incomplete passes and a run a 1-yard loss, Rogers kicked a career-long 50-yard field goal to make it 17-0 with 13:18 to play.

McGill — a fifth-year safety who transferred from Stanford, where he made 24 total starts and was a captain last season — added 34-yard pick-6 midway through the fourth and tight end RJ Maryland made a contested catch at the 10 and then broke a would-be tackle near the goal line on his way to a 43-yard touchdown catch-and-run to cap the scoring with 2:29 left.

Freshman Chase Sowell, who went into the game with 15 receptions for 148 yards, had 120 yards receiving on seven catches for the Pirates.

 

• SMU 31, East Carolina 10
• SMU (4-2, 2-0 American), ECU (1-5, 0-2 American)
• Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium – Greenville, N.C. 

• At Temple - Friday, October 20 – 7pm ET/6pm CT – Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, Pa.
• TV: ESPN2
• Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network 

• 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 2-0 in conference play this season and 7-3 in AAC games under Rhett Lashlee
  • Started 2-0 in AAC play in 4 of the past 5 seasons
• SMU wins 31-10
  • Largest margin in road win since 48-10 at North Texas 9/3/22
  • Largest margin in road AAC win since 47-23 at Temple 9/7/20
• SMU had a season-high 2 takeaways and scored 10 points off turnovers in the 4^th Qtr
  • Kobe Wilson forced fumble and recovery converted to Colling Rogers' 50-yard FG (13:18 4^th Qtr)
  • Jonathan McGill 34-yard interception return for a TD (7:22 4^th Qtr)
•  The SMU defense forced NINE 3-and-outs, including 4 of the first 5 ECU possessions in the game
•  SMU has allowed 102 points in 6 games – 17.0 per game (entered the game 2^nd in the AAC and 26^th in FBS)
  • Have help 4 of 6 opponents to 16 or less
• SMU had 1 sack, 5 TFLs and 10 pass breakups while holding ECU to 290 total yards
  • Chris Megginson had a career-high 3 pass breakups
  • Cale Sanders and Charles Woods each had 2 breakups
  • Half sack each for David Abiara and DeVere Levelston
• Preston Stone was 19-38 passing for 276 yards with 3 TDs plus 6-25 rushing
  • TDs: Roderick Daniels Jr. (24 yards), RJ Maryland (43 yards), Key'Shawn Smith (21 yards)
  • Had 301 in total offense, second-highest of the seasons (311 vs Prairie View A&M)
• SMU had 8 different players catch a pass, has had at least eight different players catch a pass in every game this season
  • Five different receivers had 3 receptions, all between 31 and 69 yards
• Collin Rogers hit a career-long 50-yard FG to put SMU up 17-10 (13:18 4^th Qtr)
• SMU led 14-0 at the end of the 1^st Qtr; scored at least 14 points in the 1^st Qtr in 4 of 6 games.
• ESPN Highlights
  • Preston Stone 21-yard TD pass to Key'Shawn Smith
  • Preston Stone 48-yard completion to Jordan Kerley
  • Preston Stone 24-yard TD to Roderick Daniels Jr.
  • Preston Stone 43-yard TD pass to RJ Maryland
•  SMU Radio 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 Lansdale sideline) – Credit: Learfield / SMU Radio Network
  • Highlights
  • Lashlee postgame 

• RJ Maryland (#82, TE, So.)
  • 3-51 receiving with a TD (3^rd TD of the season, 9^th of his career)
    1. Kylen Granson, 2019-20: 14
    T2. Rickey Bolden, 1981-83: 9
    T2. RJ Maryland, 2022- : 9
    T4. John Hampton, 2000-02: 8
    T4. Oscar Roan, 1972-74: 8 

• Ryan Bujcevski (#92, P, Sr.) – Ray Guy Award Watch List
  • 9-387 punting, with a career-high tying 5 inside the 20
• Elijah Chatman (#40, DT, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
  • Had a season-high 5 tackles
• Roderick Daniels Jr. (#13, WR, Jr.)
  • 3-31 receiving with a TD, his 3^rd TD of the season
• Branson Hickman (#56, C, Jr.) – Rimington Trophy Watch List
  • Has started 25 straight games that he has played (missed one game in 2022)
• Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, So.)
  • Had 6 tackles, one off the team lead
• Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
  • 34^th start at SMU (37 games played)
• Collin Rogers #41, K, So.)
  • 4-4 on PATs, now 82-83 for his career
  • Made a career-long 50-yard FG
• Cale Sanders Jr, (#22, DB, Jr.)
  • Had 2 tackles and a career-high tying 2 pass breakups
• Key'Shawn Smith (#9, WR, Sr.)
  • 3-60 receiving with a TD (2^nd TD of the season)
• Preston Stone (#2, QB, So.) - Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
  • 19-38 passing for 276 yards and 3 TDs plus 6-25 rushing
  • 3^rd game this season with 3+ TD passes
• Kobe Wilson (#24, LB, Jr.)
  • Team-high 7 tackles, 3^rd straight game leading the team
  • Had a forced fumble and recovery (4^th career FF, 3^rd career FR)
• Charles Woods (#3, CB, Sr.)
  • Had a tackle and a season-high 2 pass breakups