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DALLAS (AP) -- Preston Stone threw three touchdown passes before suffering an injury in the second quarter and SMU cruised over Navy 59-14 on Saturday to advance to the American Athletic Conference championship game.
Stone had already thrown for 322 yards on 14-of-19 passing when he went down awkwardly while being sacked with six minutes left in the first half. He was helped off the field then taken by cart to the dressing room.
SMU (10-2, 8-0) will travel to New Orleans to play No. 18 Tulane next Saturday. After Stone, redshirt freshman Kevin Jennings is the backup followed by Iowa transfer Alex Padilla. Jennings took over for Stone and Padilla also saw action as did fourth-stringer freshman Keldric Luster.
Tyler Lavine rushed for three touchdowns, Kelvontay Dixon had 125 yards receiving and two touchdowns on four catches and Isaiah Iwokobia had a 74-yard pick-6 in the third quarter for SMU's final points.
All three of Stone's touchdown passes came in the first quarter when he threw for 275 yards, the most in a quarter by an FBS quarterback this season, and the Mustangs went out in front 28-0 on their way to a 52-14 halftime lead, their third 40-point half of the season.
Navy (4-4, 5-6) scored on Daba Fofana's run in the final minute of the quarter after Eli Neidenreich recovered a muffed punt at the 1. In the first minute of the second quarter, long snapper Will Benton recovered a muffed Navy punt in the end zone. The punt went through the returner's legs but contacted his towel tucked into the back of his pants.
SMU scored on seven of its eight first-half drives. Navy had five three-and-outs in the half, gaining zero net yardage on those possessions. SMU outgained Navy in the first half 452-139.
For the game, SMU had 487 yards offense, playing conservatively in the second half. Navy finished with 253. Braxton Woodson threw for 71 yards with an interception and ran for 104 yards on 18 carries with a score for the Midshipmen.
Navy will play Army on Dec. 9 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
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SMU Postgame Notes – November 25, 2023
- [rv/25] SMU 59, Navy 14
- SMU (10-2, 8-0 American), Navy (5-6, 4-4 American)
- Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
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NEXT GAME
- American Athletic Conference Championship Game
- At Tulane - Saturday, December 2 – 3pm CT – Yulman Stadium – New Orleans, Louisiana
- TV: ABC
- Radio: KLIF 570 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network App
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AAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
- SMU's first trip to the AAC title game, and first conference championship appearance since 2010 (C-USA)
- SMU has won 11 conference titles - 1923, 1926, 1931, 1935, 1940 (shared), 1947, 1948, 1966, 1981, 1982, 1984 (shared)
- SMU is 8-0 in conference play this season and 13-3 in AAC games under Rhett Lashlee
- First 8-0 record in conference play
- 8th undefeated conference record in program history, first since 7-0-1 in 1982 (SWC)
- 1923 (5-0), 1926 (5-0), 1931 (5-0-1), 1935 (6-0), 1947 (5-0-1), 1948 (5-0-1), 1982 (7-0-1)
- AAC Championship Media Credentials
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SENIOR DAYÂ
- Before the game SMU honored Chris Adimora, Ryan Bujcevski, Carter Campbell, Elijah Chatman, Owen Easley, Cameron Ervin, Will Goldberg, Nic Heck, Micah Hilts, Jordan Kerley, Will Kuehne, Tyler Lavine, DeVere Levelston, Chris Megginson, Jordan Miller, Alex Padilla, Nelson Paul, Jackson Ritz, Alex Sickafoose, Hyrin White and Charles Woods.
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FBS SEASON HIGHÂ
- Preston Stone was 11-14 passing for 275 yards with 3 TDs in the first quarter (SMU led 28-7)
- Most passing yards for in FBS by a player in any quarter this season
- Most in the first quarter in an FBS game since 2019 (USC)
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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 won 59-14 - Entered game 6th in FBS in scoring offense (40.3) and 15th in scoring defense (18.0)
- 4th win by at least 40 points this season, most in program history (3 in 1928)
- 59 points is T-15th in a game at SMU (3 of top 19 this season)
- SMU is 6-0 at home this season and has won 8 consecutive home games
- 24-4 at home since the start of the 2019 season
- SMU is 16-3 at home in AAC games since 2019
- First undefeated season at Ford Stadium since 2019 (went 6-0)
- Longest home winning streak since 8 overlapping the 2019 and 2020 seasons
- SMU has won 9 straight AAC games, including 8 this season
- Longest conference winning streak since 11 straight overlapping the 1981 and 1982 seasons
- SMU had 2 takeaways (interception return for TD, fumble recovery for TD) – 14 takeaways in AAC play
- Multiple takeaways in 5 of the past 7 games
- Fumble recovery TD by Will Benton
- Interception return TD by Isaiah Nwokobia (74 yards) – 2nd INT return for TD this season (first since Jordan Wyatt in 2017 with 2 INT TDs in same season)
- 4 interception return TDs this season and 7 total non-offensive TDs
- Most interception return TDs since 2016 (4)
- SMU 34-118 rushing with 3 TDs: Tyler Lavine (3 - ties career high)
- Multiple rushing TDs in 6 straight games and 9 of past 10
- SMU had 4 sacks, 11 TFLs, 4 pass breakups, 3 QB hurries with 2 takeaways
- SMU outgained Navy 487 to 253 (plus 234 yards)
- 7th time this season that the Mustangs had at least a 180-yard advantage
- Moochie Dixon was 4-125 receiving with 2 TDs
- First 100-yard receiver for SMU this season and first 100-yard game of his career
- Career highs for yards and TDs
- SMU led 28-7 after the first quarter
- Has scored at least 14 points in the 1st Qtr in 9 of 12 games
- Has outscored AAC opponents 133-34 in the first quarter
- Ties most points in a quarter this season (Q1 vs Tulsa 10/28, Q2 vs Prairie View A&M 9/16)
- SMU was up 52-14 at halftime – 3rd time this season with 40+ in the first half (42 vs PVAM 9/16, 52 vs Tulsa 10/28)
- Preston Stone was 14-19 passing for 322 yards with 3 TDs
- TDs: Moochie Dixon (2 - 15 yards & 26 yards), Jordan Hudson (27 yards)
- 7th game this season with at least 3 total TDs, including 6 of past 7 games
- ESPN Highlights
- 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
- Series History vs Navy: SMU has won 4 straight vs Navy and retains the Gansz Trophy
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SMU TEAM RECORDS
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- SMU scored 59 points - Have scored at least 31 points in all 10 wins
SCORING |
|
|
1 |
2019 |
|
544 |
2 |
2023 |
|
502 |
3 |
2017 |
|
492 |
4 |
2022 |
|
484 |
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SACKS |
|
|
1 |
2019 |
|
51 |
2 |
1981 |
|
42 |
3 |
2023 |
|
40 |
4 |
1983 |
|
36 |
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RUSHING TDs |
|
|
1 |
2019 |
|
35 |
2 |
1981 |
|
33 |
3 |
1984 |
|
28 |
4 |
1985 |
|
27 |
|
2023 |
|
27 |
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MOST FIRST DOWNS |
|
1 |
2022 |
|
331 |
2 |
2019 |
|
322 |
3 |
2017 |
|
312 |
4 |
2021 |
|
298 |
5 |
2010 |
|
290 |
|
2023 |
|
290 |
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SMU INDIVIDUAL RECORDSÂ
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- Tyler Lavine (#31, RB, Sr.)
- 7-49 rushing with 3 TDs (ties career high for TDs)
- 25th career rushing TD
- 5th career multi-TD gameÂ
SMU CAREER RUSHING TDs |
|
1 |
Eric Dickerson 1979-82 |
47 |
|
Zach Line 2009-12 |
|
47 |
3 |
Xavier Jones 2015-19 |
|
|
45 |
4 |
Reggie Dupard 1982-85 |
41 |
5 |
Doak Walker 1945, 47-49 |
31 |
6 |
Ramon Flanigan 1992-97 |
27 |
7 |
Ke'Mon Freeman 2016-19 |
|
26 |
8 |
Tyler Lavine 2019-23 |
25 |
9 |
Alvin Maxson 1971-73 |
24 |
|
Kyle Rote 1948-50 |
|
24 |
|
|
|
|
|
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SMU CAREER RECEPTIONS - TIGHT ENDS |
1 |
John Hampton, 2000-02 |
|
114 |
2 |
Kylen Granson, 2019-20 |
|
78 |
3 |
RJ Maryland, 2022- |
|
|
57 |
4 |
Ryan Kennedy, 2004-06 |
|
55 |
|
|
|
|
|
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- Collin Rogers #41, K, So.)
- 8-8 on PATs, now 120-121 for his career
- 1-1 FGs (made 30), 16 made this season
|
 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 |
Collin Rogers, 2022- |
|
216 |
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|
SMUÂ 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 |
Collin Rogers, 2022- |
|
32 |
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|
 SMU SEASON POINTS |
|
|
1 |
Xavier Jones, 2019 |
|
150 |
2 |
Eric Dickerson, 1981 |
|
114 |
3 |
Collin Rogers, 2023 |
|
110 |
4 |
Redman Hume, 1927 |
109 |
5 |
Collin Rogers, 2022 |
|
106 |
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CAREER PATs MADE |
|
|
|
1 |
Eddie Garcia, 1978-81 |
|
130 |
2 |
Collin Rogers |
|
|
120+ |
3 |
Chase Hover, 2009-13 |
|
|
118 |
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- 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
- 14-19 passing for 322 yards and 3 TDs
- 7th game this season with at least 3 total TDs, 6th in past 7 gamesÂ
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SEASON PASSING YARDS |
|
1 |
Shane Buechele, 2019 |
3929 |
2 |
Kyle Padron, 2010 |
|
3828 |
3 |
Tanner Mordecai, 2021 |
3628 |
4 |
Ben Hicks, 2017 |
|
3569 |
5 |
Garrett Gilbert, 2013 |
|
3528 |
6 |
Tanner Mordecai, 2022 |
3524 |
7 |
J.J. McDermott, 2011 |
3421 |
8 |
Preston Stone, 2023 |
3197 |
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ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTESÂ
- Ryan Bujcevski (#92, P, Sr.) – Ray Guy Award Watch List
- 6-285 punting, 2 In 20, Long 52
- Elijah Chatman (#40, DT, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
- Moochie Dixon (#5, WR, Jr.)
- 4-125 receiving with 2 TDs
- Career highs for yards and TDs
- Has 4 TDs this season, all in past 5 games
- Branson Hickman (#56, C, Jr.) – Rimington Trophy Watch List
- Has started 31 straight games that he has played (missed one game in 2022)
- Jordan Hudson (#8, WR, So.)
- 2-42 receiving with a TD
- 7 TDs this season, 5 in past 6 games
- Ahmaad Moses (#16, S, So.)
- Career-high 9 tackles, including carer-high 2 TFLs
- Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
- 40th start at SMU (43 games played)
- Cameron Robertson (#15, DE, So.)
- Career-high 2 sacks (4 sacks this season, all in past 3 games)
- Camar Wheaton (#0, RB, So.)