SMU Overwhelms Cal With 42-Point Second Half in 59-20 Rout

UNIVERSITY PARK - SMU turned a halftime deficit into a runaway victory Saturday, scoring 42 unanswered points after the break to overwhelm California 59-20 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

The No. 23 Mustangs trailed 20-17 at halftime before dominating both sides of the ball over the final two quarters. SMU scored three touchdowns in each quarter while holding the Golden Bears scoreless, improving to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the ACC.

MORE: Rhett Lashlee Is Making It Impossible For College Football To Ignore SMU

The second-half numbers reflected the extent of the turnaround. SMU outgained Cal 306-50 and collected 20 first downs to the Bears’ two. The Mustangs rushed for 182 yards after halftime while holding Cal to minus-1 yard on the ground. Cal failed on all seven of its second-half third-down attempts. 

Freshman running back Christian Rhodes started the surge with a 5-yard touchdown run that put SMU ahead 24-20 with 10:10 remaining in the third quarter.

Kevin Jennings followed with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Derrick McFall, and Rhodes added a 3-yard scoring run to extend the advantage to 38–20 before the fourth quarter.

While SMU’s offense repeatedly reached the end zone, its defense allowed just 15 total yards and one first down in the third quarter. Cal managed minus-7 rushing yards in the period as the Mustangs took control.

The fourth quarter brought more of the same.

Kendrick Raphael scored from a yard out with 11:23 remaining, Jennings connected with Jalen Hale for a 17-yard touchdown, and EJ Kelly capped the scoring with a 10-yard run with 2:32 left.

Those six second-half touchdowns turned a competitive conference game into a 39-point victory. 

Jennings finished 16 of 23 for 223 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Raphael carried 22 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns, adding a 22-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.

Rhodes contributed 41 rushing yards and two scores on seven carries.

Backup quarterback Ty Hawkins added 60 yards rushing on three attempts, helping SMU finish with 256 yards on the ground.

The Mustangs totaled 492 yards, averaged 7.2 yards per play and converted all four of their fourth-down attempts. They also finished without a turnover. 

Cal had presented a much different challenge before halftime.

The Bears scored first on Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s 10-yard pass to Chase Hendricks and later built a 17-10 lead. Raphael’s first rushing touchdown pulled SMU even before a 37-yard field goal by Towns McGough gave Cal its halftime advantage.

The Bears never scored again.

MORE: How to Watch No. 23 SMU vs. California as the Mustangs Seek Revenge Against the Golden Bears

Sagapolutele finished with 265 passing yards, and Hendricks caught seven passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. But Cal managed only 40 rushing yards for the game and fell to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

SMU travels to Syracuse next Saturday after producing a second half in which its offense scored at will and its defense gave Cal almost nothing.