DALLAS, Texas – In their third conference game of the season, SMU lost to Cincinnati by two points with a final score of 29 to 27. The Mustangs had an explosive start on defense, holding the Bearcats to their lowest total yards this season and closest margin of victory in their conference winning streak.
Even though many would say that SMU played a close game against one of the best teams in their conference, Head Coach Rhett Lashlee would disagree.
“We didn’t come here today to play them close,” Lashlee said. “We came here to win.”
The SMU offense struggled to move the ball outside of Cincinnati territory until the second quarter when they brought the game to 20-14 at half.
A major factor in Saturday’s game that became a huge barrier in the third and fourth quarter for the Mustangs, was the 20-35 mph wind that swept through Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
“I think everybody knew whoever was going to the scoreboard today, the wind was brutal,” Lashlee said. “Whoever had the wind won the quarter, and we didn’t win our two quarters by enough.”
Backup quarterback Preston Stone entered the game for starter Tanner Mordecai after he left the field with an injury. Stone gave his team two fourth-quarter touchdown drives that put SMU two points behind Cincinnati.
Lashlee told the media after the game that he was proud of Stone’s performance and that he plays with a very optimistic attitude. When asked where that optimism comes from, Stone said, “It’s hard to not be optimistic when you have so many playmakers on your team.”
SMU is currently 3-3 and are set to play Tulsa in Oklahoma Saturday, October 29th at 2:30 p.m.
