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RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Preston Stone connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass to R.J. Maryland with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter as SMU defeated Nevada 29-24 on Saturday night.

Down 24-13, the SMU comeback started with 10 minutes left and the Mustangs pinned at their own 10-yard line. On third down and short, Stone connected on a 49-yard pass to Maryland. SMU finished the drive with a Brashard Smith four-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion to pull within 24-21.

On Nevada's next possession, SMU defensive lineman Anthony Booker Jr. tackled Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis in the endzone for a safety to pull the Mustangs within a point with eight minutes left in the game.

SMU began its winning drive on its own 17-yard line with 3:31 left.

The nine play, 83-yard drive ended with Maryland's winning catch. SMU's 6-foot-4 junior wide receiver finished the game with eight receptions for 162 yards.

Penalties plagued SMU and forced them to play from behind into the fourth quarter. The Mustangs had 11 penalties for 125 yards, including one unsportsmanlike penalty for spitting in the third quarter that led to an ejection for cornerback Brandon Crossley. The penalty opened the door for the Wolf Pack to continue a 15-play drive and take a 24-13 lead with 3:23 left in the third.

Lewis led the Wolf Pack in its near upset, completing 14 passes on 26 attempts for 132 yards. He also led the Wolf Pack with 77 rushing yards.

Stone completed 17 of 30 passes for 254 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Nevada opened the scoring with Lewis' 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jace Henry with a minute left in the first quarter. SMU responded with a 10-play drive to open the second quarter, capped by a one-yard run from L.J. Johnson Jr.

Nevada and SMU both made field goals in the second quarter before Lewis' 10-yard touchdown pass to Cortez Braham Jr. with nine seconds left in the first half gave the Wolf Pack a 17-10 lead at the break.
 

SMU Postgame Notes – August 24, 2024

• [rv/rv] SMU 29, Nevada 24
• SMU (1-0), Nevada (0-1)
• Mackay Stadium - Reno, Nevada

 
 
NEXT GAME

• Houston Christian - Saturday, August 31 – 7pm CT – Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
• TV: ACCNX
• Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network
• Tickets: smumustangs.com/tickets

 
TEAM NOTES

• Captains: Jake Bailey (#12, WR, Gr.), Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Gr.), Elijah Roberts (#5, DE, Sr.), Ahmad Walker (#34, LB, Sr.)
• SMU opens the season receiving votes in the AP Top 25 and US LBM Coaches Poll, making it the sixth straight season of being ranked or receiving votes.
• SMU trailed 24-13 to start the 4^th quarter
  • Outscored Nevada 16-0 in the 4^th quarter
  • Rushing TD by Brashard Smith and 2-point conversion by LJ Johnson at 8:01
    • Finished a drive of 8 plays, 98 yards in 2:12
  • SMU safety at 7:19
  • Preston Stone 34-yard passing TD to RJ Maryland at 1:18
  • SMU had 191 of its 408 in the 4^th quarter (8.7 yards per play) and held Nevada to 54 yards
  • Biggest 4^th quarter comeback since 10/5/19 vs Tulsa (down 30-9, won 43-37 3Ots)
  • SMU was 4-5 on 3^rd down in the 4^th quarter and held Nevada to 1-4
• SMU starts the season 1-0
  • SMU is 19-9 under Rhett Lashlee
  • SMU is 10-1 in last 11 games
  • SMU has won 6 consecutive road games
  • SMU has won 6 consecutive season openers
• SMU had a safety at 7:19 of the 4^th quarter on a tackle by Jahfari Harvey
  • First safety since vs SFA 9/26/2020
• SMU had 408 yards of total offense and held Nevada to 298 yards of total offense
• SMU did not allowed a sack (ranked 13^th in FBS with just 16 total sacks allowed in 2023)
• The SMU defense held Nevada to:
  • 298 total yards (150passing, 148 rushing)
  • 8-18 on 3^rd downs
• SMU had 8 receivers catch a pass
  • SMU has had at least 7 different receivers catch a pass in 18 straight games
• Preston Stone (#2, QB, Jr.) – Davey O'Brien Awrad Watch List, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, Manning Award Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Texas Rose Award Watch List
  • Had 254 yards passing with a TD and 35 yards rushing
  • 12-2 as a starter at SMU
• RJ Maryland (#82, TE, Jr.) – Mackey Award Watch List, Dave Campbell's Texas Football Best Tight End
  • 8-162 receiving (career highs in receptions and yards) with a TD
  • Most receiving yards in a game since Rashee Rice had 180 at Tulsa 10/29/22
  • Tied the SMU RECORD for career receiving TDs by a tight end (14 – Kylen Granson 2019-20)
• Brashard Smith (#1, RB, Sr.) – Jet Award Watch List
  • Had 141 all-purpose yards (11-67 rushing w/ a TD, 2-26 receiving, 2-48 kickoff return)
• Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, Jr.)
  • Had a career-high 13 tackles, most by a Mustang since Rodney Clemons & Jordon Williams each had 15 vs Navy 9/22/18
• The Series vs Nevada 4-3 – SMU has won the past 2 matchups
• SMU Highlights and Head Coach Rhett Lashlee postgame radio | SMU Radio Network on KTCK "The Ticket" 96.7 FM, 1310 AM (Rich Phillips & Scott Garner)
  • Highlights
  • Lashlee postgame

• RJ Maryland (#82, TE, Jr.) – Mackey Award Watch List, Dave Campbell's Texas Football Best Tight End
  • 8-162 receiving with a TD

• Collin Rogers (#41, K, Jr.)
  • 1-1 on PATs, now 125-126 for his career
  • 2-3 on FGs (made 52, 43, missed 51)

• Preston Stone (#2, QB, Jr.) – Davey O'Brien Awrad Watch List, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, Manning Award Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Texas Rose Award Watch List
  • 17-30 passing 254 yards with a TD
  • 5-35 rushing

• LJ Johnson Jr. (#11, RB, Jr.)
  • 9-19 rushing with a TD
  • 7 career rushing TDs
  • Had a 2-point conversion, first of his career
• Jaylan Knighton (#4, RB, Sr.) – Doak Walker Award Watch List
  • 4-8 rushing and 2-26 receiving
• Jonathan McGill (#2, S, Gr.) – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
  • Had 2 tackles and a pass breakup
• Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, Jr.)
  • Career-high 13 tackles (was 9)
• Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Gr.) – Outland Trophy Watch List, Remington Trophy Watch List
  • Has played 46 games at SMU with 43 starts
• Logan Parr (#71, OL, Gr.) – Lombardi Award Watch List
• Elijah Roberts (#5, DE, Sr.) – Bednarik Award Watch List
  • Had 1 tackle
• Brashard Smith (#1, RB, Sr.) – Jet Award Watch List
  • Had 141 all-purpose yards (11-67 rushing w/ a TD, 2-26 receiving, 2-48 kickoff return)
  • Had a rushing TD, 2^nd of his career
• Ahmad Walker (#34, LB, Sr.)
  • Had 7 tackles and a TFL
• Kobe Wilson (#24, LB, Gr.)
  • Had 7 tackles