NCAA Game Summary - Temple at SMU
Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Garrett Gilbert accounted for six touchdowns as the SMU Mustangs won a shootout over American Athletic Conference rival Temple, 59-49, at Ford Stadium.
Gilbert converted 37-of-53 passing for a Mustangs' record 538 yards, with four of those completions going for touchdowns as SMU (3-4, 2-1 AAC) won for the second time in as many outings. Gilbert was also the team's leading rusher with two touchdowns and 97 yards on just eight carries. Keenan Holman had a career-high 209 yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches.
The Owls (1-7, 0-4) didn't quite have enough to pull out their first conference win as P.J. Walker threw for 293 passing yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-37 attempts. Walker, like Gilbert, also led his team in rushing with 92 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts. Robbie Anderson was the top receiver on the day with a career-high 239 yards and two scores on nine catches.
Traylon Shead put the Mustangs on top early in the first quarter, crossing the goal line on an 11-yard run to finish off a five-play, 55-yard drive in less than two minutes.
Temple responded in a big way with 28 straight points, beginning with a 42- yard touchdown pass from Walker to Anderson. The Owls followed that up with a touchdown pass for 83 yards from Jalen Fitzpatrick to Anderson.
The visitors' attack continued in the second quarter when Walker combined with John Christopher on an 18-yard TD pass play. Walker then hit Ryan Alderman with an 18-yard TD pass as well, moving the Owls to what appeared to be a commanding 28-7 advantage with 9:16 remaining in the half.
Late in the second quarter Gilbert directed the Mustangs on a 95-yard drive that was capped by a 19-yard TD strike to Holman, making the score 28-14 at the break.
The home team came out fast in the second half by scoring on its first drive. Gilbert completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Der'rikk Thompson to draw the Mustangs within seven.
Walker called his own number less than two minutes later and scored on a six- yard touchdown run to put the Owls up by two touchdowns once again.
SMU's ensuing possession began what would be a run of 21 straight points for the hosts, as Gilbert made it into the end zone on a 10-yard run. With 3:29 left in the third stanza SMU tied the game up at 35-35 on a 64-yard touchdown pass from Gilbert to Holman. A two-yard touchdown run by Prescott Line less than a minute into the fourth provided the Mustangs with a 42-35 advantage.
But the Owls weren't out of it yet as they tied the game up with 11:26 to play when Walker hit Kenneth Harper on a four-yard touchdown toss.
A Chase Hover 21-yard field goal moments later put the Mustangs back on top, while a 50-yard TD catch by Holman and a five-yard touchdown run by Gilbert made the score 59-42 with less than three minutes remaining.
A two-yard touchdown run by Harper brought the Owls within 10, but the visitors simply ran out of time.
Temple went into the game averaging 349.9 ypg in total offense but were able to rack up 593 yards on Saturday. The Mustangs piled up 728 yards of offense, averaging close to nine yards per play as they scored on all eight of their red zone opportunities.