The first three California possessions after halftime produced a tidy formula for a Dallas-area SMU victory: three plays, punt; three plays, punt; three plays, punt. The Mustangs’ offense eventually made the score ridiculous, but the defense created the conditions for the 59-20 win at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
California had led 20-17 at halftime. After the break, the Golden Bears gained 50 yards, went 0-for-7 on third down and failed to score. SMU answered with 42 points and 306 yards, including touchdowns on each of its first six second-half possessions.
That offensive run deserves credit, especially with Kendrick Raphael and Kevin Jennings doing plenty of damage. Still, the game turned when California stopped being able to keep the ball.
The opening possession after intermission was a three-and-out without any mystery. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s completion to Tyree Sams lost a yard, Niles Davis gained 1, and a pass to Mason Mini went for no gain. California punted after three snaps.
The second series was even less inviting. Woo Spencer’s sack cost Sagapolutele 7 yards, a completion recovered only 2, and the third-down pass fell incomplete. The next possession lasted three plays as well: a 1-yard loss, an incompletion and a 5-yard Sagapolutele run that still left fourth-and-6.
Three punts in a row had consumed less than five minutes of game time and left SMU with a game that suddenly fit in one hand.
The Mustangs converted the first useful field position quickly. Yamir Knight returned the second-half punt 26 yards to the California 35. Raphael carried for 5 yards, then 7, then 2, putting the ball at the California 21.
On second-and-8, Jennings found Derrick McFall for a 21-yard touchdown. The drive covered 35 yards and lasted 1:24. It was short because the defense had already done the long work of ending California’s possession.
California’s next series offered a better chance to push back. The Bears moved from their 25 to their 41, but Brandon Miyazono sacked Sagapolutele on second-and-7, creating third-and-18. A completion regained 11 yards, leaving fourth-and-7.
The fourth-down pass fell incomplete, and SMU took over without benefiting from an interception or fumble. California finished the game with no turnovers; its offense simply kept losing possessions when the important downs arrived.
That stop gave SMU the ball at the California 41. The Mustangs did not need another burst from Jennings. The drive crossed the quarter break, included a 16-yard reception by Randy Pittman Jr. and a 13-yard Christian Rhodes run, and ended when Raphael scored from 1 yard at 11:23 of the fourth quarter.