In a crucial moment of the game, Duke decided to go for the win, but SMU’s defense came through.
“If you’ve got a chance to win the game in the first inning, you do it,” said Duke coach Manny Diaz. “And we had missed three straight kicks.”
The risk didn’t pay off. The No. 22 Mustangs stopped Duke’s attempt for a two-point conversion in overtime, winning the game 28-27 on the road against the Blue Devils late Saturday night.
This victory marked SMU’s fifth straight win (7-1, 4-0 ACC), with Brashard Smith rushing for 117 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings contributed with 299 yards of total offense, scoring one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown.
Despite losing, Duke (6-2, 2-2) managed to win the turnover battle 6-0.
“We should’ve lost that game five different times late,” said SMU coach Rhett Lashlee. “We should have. And if we played it 100 times, we’re probably losing 99 of them the way the game unfolded. This just happened to be the one time. Our guys just kept playing, kept fighting.”
For Duke, Maalik Murphy completed 27 of 48 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns, while Star Thomas rushed for 65 yards and one touchdown.
The game picked up again with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter when Duke finished a 10-play, 64-yard drive with Thomas powering his way into the end zone for a touchdown.
Late in the fourth quarter, Jennings fumbled while trying to run on a second-and-6 play. Duke linebacker Ozzie Nicholas picked up the ball and returned it 21 yards, putting the Blue Devils in a good scoring position.
However, Duke couldn’t take advantage of this opportunity, and a last-second 30-yard field goal attempt by Todd Pelino was blocked by SMU’s Jahfari Harvey as time ran out in regulation.
“We knew we had to step up, strain, give 110% effort,” said SMU’s Isaiah Nwokobia, who recovered the blocked kick. “(Harvey) got through there and made a big-time play in a big-time game.”
In overtime, the Mustangs quickly scored with a 24-yard run from Smith, and Duke responded with a touchdown pass to Eli Pancol. On Duke’s attempt for a two-point conversion to win the game, Murphy scrambled to his right after feeling pressure, but his pass to Pancol fell incomplete.
“For those guys in that locker room, there’s a lot of emotions,” Diaz said. “Sadness, anger, confusion. Whatever you can feel, they feel.”
