– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
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DALLAS — If you ask SMU running back Brashard Smith, tonight’s latest landmark victory was a case of “catch us if you can,” and not too many teams in the country can keep up with the Mustangs in their backyard. One of the few undefeated teams in the country tried to do so on Saturday night and left the arena with hoof prints all over, trampled by one explosive play after another.
Smith rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown while adding another score as a receiver for the No. 20 Mustangs, who eviscerated previously unbeaten and No. 18 Pittsburgh 48-25 in prime time at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Quarterback Kevin Jennings, who was questionable to play after leaving last week’s game at Duke with an injury, completed 17-of-25 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns.
SMU remains undefeated in conference play in their first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and it became the first team to start 5-0 in their first season in a power conference after moving up from a Group of Five league.
“It just shows when you worry about taking care of your own business, what can happen,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said.
The Mustangs continue to take care of their business in some style at home. SMU has scored at least 42 points in four of their five home games played so far this season, the only exception coming in their 18-15 defeat against then-unranked and now-No. 9 BYU on September 6.
SMU scored on five of its first seven possessions of the game, with four of those going for touchdowns, on their way to building a 31-3 lead at halftime. The back-to-back touchdown drives engineered in the second quarter showcased the Mustangs ability to grind out a drive — which occurred on a 15-play, 75-yard march that ended with Roderick Daniels Jr.’s 3-yard touchdown run for a 14-3 lead — and strike quickly, with Smith’s 71-yard touchdown run accounting for the only play of SMU’s ensuing drive after Pittsburgh kicker Ben Sauls missed a 47-yard field goal attempt.
“We’re just going fast like we normally do, and they couldn’t keep up,” Smith said.
*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Saturday evening’s game, with photos taken by ALOST staff photographer Ross James. After clicking on a photo to enlarge the picture, press the left and right arrow buttons on either side of the caption to scroll through the rest of the pictures that appear on the first page. Also, click on the numbers and/or arrow appearing immediately below the picture grid to load the next set of photos. There are 39 pictures in total.
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