Mustangs Dominate Navy 59-14, Next Stop - AAC Championship Game - SMU Athletics (2024)

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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.

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

• 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

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
  • 8^th 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

SENIOR DAY

• 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.

FBS SEASON HIGH

• 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)

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 6^th in FBS in scoring offense (40.3) and 15^th in scoring defense (18.0)
  • 4^th win by at least 40 points this season, most in program history (3 in 1928)
  • 59 points is T-15^th 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) – 2^nd 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
  • Sacks: Cameron Robertson (2), Je'Lin Samuels (0.5) Isaiah Smith (1), Kobe Wilson (0.5)
    • Now have 40 sacks on the season, 3^rd in a season at SMU
  • TFLs: 11 (ties season high – 11 vs Louisiana Tech 9/2) – Ahmaad Moses & Cameron Robertson had 2 each
  • Interception: Isaiah Nwokobia (74-yard TD)
  • Fumble Recoveries: Will Benton (0-yard TD)
• SMU outgained Navy 487 to 253 (plus 234 yards)
  • 7^th 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 1^st 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 – 3^rd 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)
  • 7^th game this season with at least 3 total TDs, including 6 of past 7 games
• ESPN Highlights
  • Kobe Wilson
  • Isaiah Smith sack
  • Isaiah Nwokobia pick-6
  • Cameron Robertson sack
  • Tyler Lavine 19-yard rushing TD (3^rd of game)
  • Tyler Lavine 8-yard rushing TD
  • SMU's Will Benton snaps ball, recovers it for a TD on same play
  • Moochie Dixon TD with a one-handed grab
  • Preston Stone 27-yard TD pass to Jordan Hudson
  • Preston Stone 15-yard TD pass to Moochie Dixon
  • Tyler Lavine 1-yard TD run
• 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
• Series History vs Navy: SMU has won 4 straight vs Navy and retains the Gansz Trophy

• SMU scored 59 points - Have scored at least 31 points in all 10 wins

• SMU had 4 sacks

• SMU had 3 rushing TDs – Tyler Lavine (3)

• SMU had 20 first downs

SMU INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

• Tyler Lavine played in his 59^th game at SMU (T-1^st). Elijah Chatman and Nelson Paul played their 58^th game as Mustangs (T-3^rd)

• Tyler Lavine (#31, RB, Sr.)
  • 7-49 rushing with 3 TDs (ties career high for TDs)
  • 25^th career rushing TD
  • 5^th career multi-TD game

• RJ Maryland (#82, TE, So.)
  • 3-64 receiving

• Collin Rogers #41, K, So.)
  • 8-8 on PATs, now 120-121 for his career
  • 1-1 FGs (made 30), 16 made this season

• 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
  • 7^th game this season with at least 3 total TDs, 6^th in past 7 games

• 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
  • Had 1 tackle
• 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
  • 40^th 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.)
  • 11-46 rushing