DALLAS (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score and No. 21 SMU beat Boston College 25-16 in a soggy defensive struggle Saturday.
asserted
SMU → throw → struggle
Jennings, the FBS passing leader at 357 yards per game coming in, had only 160 while going 20 of 30 in a light but steady rain that lasted into the second half.
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that → come → half
His passing yardage was his lowest since the week Jennings took over as the starter early in the 2024 season.
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Jennings → take → season
Marques White had three of SMU’s five sacks, including one that forced a fumble by Mason McKenzie and was returned 34 yards by Aakil Washington to the Eagles’ 13-yard line.
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that → have → line
It set up Jennings’ 14-yard scoring pass to Randy Pittman Jr.
“Really proud of our defense,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said after the Mustangs won despite getting outgained 322-218.
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Mustangs → set → defense
“I thought defensively start to finish it was our most complete game.”
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it → think → finish
Jennings’ other TD toss also came on a short drive when SMU (4-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) returned a punt to the BC 41.
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SMU → come → BC
After a roughing the passer penalty on third down, Jennings threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Derrick McFall.
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Jennings → throw → McFall
Kendrick Raphael had a 2-yard TD run.
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Raphael → have → run
The Eagles (2-3, 0-2) had a chance to get within two points early in the fourth quarter, but Cameron Kossmann dropped a pass when he was wide open and probably would have scored easily on fourth-and-inches from the SMU 8.
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he → have → SMU
“Too many mistakes,” said BC coach Bill O’Brien, whose team had 11 penalties for 95 yards.
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team → say → yards
“We work very hard to coach a disciplined team.
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We → work → team
Evan Dickens caught a 43-yard scoring pass from McKenzie, and Danny Edgehille had a 6-yard TD grab before the Eagles’ failed 2-point conversion attempt left them nine points down with 2:07 remaining.
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attempt → catch → 2:07
McKenzie bounced back from a rough passing game in a loss to Virginia Tech to throw for 208 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
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McKenzie → bounce → interception
His scrambling ability was negated somewhat by the sacks.
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ability → negate → sacks
He had 74 yards rushing — with 33 subtracted by the sacks.
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He → have → sacks
Lashlee was already annoyed with special teams coming into the game, and that was before the Mustangs botched two PAT attempts.
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Mustangs → annoy → attempts
The first was a high snap that was difficult for Wade McSparron to handle, particularly on a wet field.
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McSparron → handle → field
McSparron simply mishandled the snap the second time.
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McSparron → mishandle → snap
While saying he thought other parts of the special teams were better, Lashlee added, “Obviously, there’s guys in Pop Warner that can take a snap and hold better than we can right now.”
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we → say → snap
Fourth-and-50 is not a typo
The Mustangs faced fourth-and-50 after getting the ball at the Boston College 44-yard line when O’Brien went for it on fourth down in a nine-point game in the third quarter.
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O’Brien → face → quarter
SMU had three holding penalties, including one that wiped out a 22-yard completion.
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that → have → completion
Jennings was sacked for a 9-yard loss, and Raphael lost 2 more yards on a run on third-and-48.
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Raphael → sack → third
McSparron’s punt was 50 yards — caught right at the first-down marker by Charlie Comella before a 10-yard return.
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punt → catch → return
It’s finally fall in Texas
SMU was playing three weeks after a 56-10 victory at home when the temperature was 100 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius) just about from start to finish.
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temperature → play → finish
The Texas heat finally relented on Thursday, and the third day of the month was all clouds, rain and a pleasant 73 degrees.
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day → relent → month
Up next
Both teams are off next week before playing at home Oct. 17.
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teams → play → home
Boston College has Pittsburgh, and SMU plays Virginia in the third of four consecutive home games.
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SMU → have → games
The Aporia
