Incredible statistics define SMU's improbable victory over Duke

DURHAM, N.C. – In SMU's 28-27 overtime win over Duke on Saturday night, the offense's six turnovers were the stat most people remembered.

SMU became the first team since Marshall in 2011 to post a minus-6 turnover margin and still win.

The six turnovers, five of which came from quarterback Kevin Jennings, could have been the story of the game.

But SMU's defense ensured another number on the box score was even more jarring.

The Mustang defense didn't allow a single Duke point on SMU's six turnovers Saturday night and put on an incredible defensive performance, especially in the fourth quarter, that allowed them to win by a point in overtime.

“That’s probably the most amazing statistic of all,” SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said. “It’s pretty remarkable. That’s why you keep playing every play.”

SMU's offense gave its defense every reason not to play its best on every play Saturday night. After Duke erased a two-touchdown deficit, the Mustang offense turned the ball over in its own territory three times in the fourth quarter.

Duke began its final three regular drives at the SMU 24, 38 and 13 yard lines. The Blue Devils attempted two field goals in the final six minutes of the game.

However, they couldn't score a goal.

“We should have lost that game five times,” Lashlee said. “We should have done that. If we played it 100 times, we would probably lose it 99 times because of the way the game turned out. It was just that one time.”

SMU's defense forced a missed field goal, a three-and-out, and blocked a field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime tied 21-21. There, the group made the game-winning stop on Duke's two-point conversion attempt.

“We did a good job of just playing football and sticking together when things got tough. Guys didn't point fingers. We didn't start blaming each other. We stayed together,” said defender Isaiah Nwokobia. “We knew we had to improve. That's it. We knew we had to push ourselves and give 110%.”

SMU's defense has been down all season. The Mustangs rank third nationally in turnovers generated (17). But they couldn't rely on those takeaways like they have so often this season.

The Mustangs showed a different point of view, giving up just 28 points Sunday night to a team that reached SMU territory on 11 different drives. But plays like the one Jahfari Harvey made late in the game to block the field goal or the one Cameron Robertson made early in the second half to sack quarterback Maalik Murphy and knock Duke out of field goal range , summarize what the unit is capable of.

For two-thirds of the season, SMU's defense has improved game after game. More than 30 points are only allowed once.

And his effort on Saturday night changed the way the game will be remembered. Instead of one where SMU gave it away, it will be known as one where the Mustangs stole it back.

“We probably did an exercise in how to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat,” Lashlee said. “There were four or five times in the last 10 minutes of that game where we could have just said, 'This isn't our night.' Our guys just kept playing and kept fighting.

“That’s what team sports are about, and that’s what winning is all about. Our guys lean on each other.”

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