SMU's Rhett Lashlee Reacts To Wasting Kendrick Raphael's Monster Day vs. Louisville

The SMU Mustangs lost their first game of the season, going down 41-31 on the road to Louisville, and in the process, wasted a huge day from running back Kendrick Raphael.

With the Mustangs their own worst enemy as turnovers again were the main theme, but this time, they couldn't overcome them.

Two Kevin Jennings interceptions, a lost fumble and two failed fourth down tries, saw the Mustangs, despite scoring 31 points, lose by two scores.

As for the run game, well, that worked. 

SMU rushed for 257 yards with Raphael having his way with the Cardinals defense, going for 197 yards and 3 TDs on 24 carries as the Mustangs pounded the rock with great effect.

But it was all for nothing as they lost the game.

READ MORE:  Charles Woods, Rashee Rice Lead Former SMU Stars In NFL Week 2

And for Lashlee, he loved how his team ran the ball, but lamented the turnovers that saw Raphael's big day be for nothing.

"We felt good that we would be able to run the football," Lashlee said. "The counter was working really well, inside zone, they have really good defensive ends, and they were keeping them wide to try to contain us from getting on the edges, but we felt like the mismatch was us on the inside, and it was.

"We ran for 260 yards. Kendrick had almost 200 himself. I thought he did a nice job. If you run it 45 times and you throw it 10 times less than you ran it, it's going to be a good formula. But we turned it over, we turned it over on downs twice, and we didn't tackle in the run game."

READ MORE:  No. 5 SMU Volleyball Sweeps Yale To Close Non-Conference Play

So, despite the loss and the costly turnovers, the run game was the big tick on the report card for SMU.

They controlled the line of scrimmage, and put the Cardinals on the back foot.

SMU ran 20 more plays, had the ball for three minutes more, only punted three times compared to Louisville's six, and had fewer penalties.

But they lost the only stat that matters: the score.

So, the run game was good, but everything else leaves a little to be desired, as the Mustangs must now pick themselves up and get ready for Missouri State this week.