#9 Mustangs Run Past Overmatched Bears For 38-6 Win in Dallas

DALLAS, TX - The Bears’ first-half woes continued as their hope to carry some Big Game win momentum into bowl season was dashed in a lopsided 38-6 loss to #9 SMU at Gerald Ford Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs moved to 11-1/8-0 on the season and will be headed for the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte next weekend to face Clemson.

The first half ran neck-and-neck with Cal’s first-half debacle in their loss to Syracuse last week for futility. The Mustangs’ offense made the Cal defense look like the JV squad, running around, past and over the Cal defenders throughout much of the half, accumulating 251 yards to Cal’s 105 in running up a 21-0 score at halftime.

The Cal offense was hampered by starting QB Fernando Mendoza out with an illness along with starting offensive linemen Nick Morrow and Sioape Vatikani with injuries as well as starting running back Jaivian Thomas. Backup QB Chandler Rogers got the nod at QB with Jaydn Ott getting the start at running back and Frederick Williams and Bastian Swinney at LT and RG respectively.

“Injuries are a part of the game,” Wilcox said after the game. “Nobody feels sorry for us. We didn’t do enough to win, starting with the first quarter. We didn’t do much on offense or defense. Unblocked defenders were missing tackles. When you’re unblocked and you have the type of speed we were playing against, they’re going to make big plays.”

"I think they got out to a hot start," linebacker tight end Jack Endries said after the game. "They're up 21-0 at one point, so it just made it tough for us to really get into groove and really get into things. I think defensively, we were able to settle in there. But yeah, it was tough going down early. I think that was really what hurt us in the end."

The Bears’ offense struggled all half, making a lone bid for the end zone on their fourth drive, keyed by a 37-yard catch and run by receiver Tobias Merriweather and a 17-yard Ott run helped the Bears move the ball to the SMU 6 but they went backward from there on a TFL followed by a 10-yard sack on Rogers when tight end Corey Dyches completely whiffed on his man, leaving Rogers’ back exposed for a big hit. The Bears’ kicking futility also continued as kicker Derek Morris missed wide right on a 38-yard attempt to keep the Bears off the board.

The SMU offense looked potent and far faster than the Bears’ D as SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings hit receiver Matthew Hibner for an 11-yard TD for the Mustangs’ first score followed by TD runs by running backs Brashard Smith and Derrick McFall for 5 and 11 yards to run up their three TD lead at the break.

The defense did a total turnaround in the third quarter, giving up just 17 yards to the potent SMU offense. Meanwhile, the injuries continued to pile up as Rogers went down with an injury after a third quarter scramble followed by starting RG Swinney.

Third team QB CJ Harris came on and moved the ball fairly effectively, hitting receiver Nyziah Hunter for a 60-yard completion down the sidelines as well as picking up good yardage on several runs, leading the Bears on their first scoring drive after their drive stalled and kicker Ryan Coe came on to finally put the Bears on the board with a 40-yard field goal after their drive stalled.

Coe also drilled a 53-yard boot to start the fourth quarter to narrow the deficit to 21-6.

Following a 48-yard Colling Rogers field goal in SMU’s next possession, any attempt to make a game of it dissipated in the Bears’ next possession. Starting the drive on the Cal 25, Harris sailed a ball right into the waiting arms of former Cal cornerback offeree Jonathan McGill at the 44, returned 23 yards to the Cal 21. The Mustangs struck quickly, as QB Jennings hit Brashard on the second play from scrimmage for a 23-yard TD pass to extend their lead to 31-6 with 8:28 remaining to effectively ice the game.

Adding insult to injury, backup QB Preston Stone was not content to run out the clock as the former starter hit receiver Key’Shawn Smith on a 40-yard TD pass in triple coverage to bring the final margin to 38-6 with 3:38 remaining.

"The close games (losses), obviously, it sucks for everyone the coaches, too,” Endries said. “It just sucks how close we were to a 10-2 team or whatever. Maybe this game is completely different if we're 10-1 going into it, but just think leading that into that what I'm proud of, I'm proud of our guys for holding on. And this season could have gone a different way. We could've also gone 10-2 or whatever. We could have gone 4-8 and lost to Stanford as well. And I'm glad that we all stuck in there and and finished season at least bowl eligible. And I think we're going to lead into the bowl game strong."

"I'm just I'm just proud of everyone's commitment and effort, just each and every day," MLB Teddye Buchanan said after the game, despite his disappointment with the loxx. "I feel like guys were focused and brought great energy, and it was a pleasure to be with a group of guys with me joining in June and a ton of other guys joining in the portal. I think we came together in a way that was special."

Buchanan also stated that he plans to play in Cal’s upcoming bowl game that’s yet to be announced.

Seniors Craig Woodson and Teddye Buchanan led the Bears with 7 tackles a piece on defense. Rogers and Harris combined for 14-for-26 at QB. Ott led the rushing game with just 37 yards in 13 carries and Hunter led Cal receivers with 85 yards on 5 receptions.

The Bears fell to 6-6/2-6 after the defeat and will await their bowl game matchup in coming days.