University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
1-9 , 0-6
SMU
5-5 , 4-2
Football Loses Shootout to SMU, 62-50
11/10/2018 5:15:00 PM | Football
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – In a wild, offensive shootout, the SMU football team had a little more ammunition than UConn.
In a game that featured a combined 112 points and 1,174 yards of total offense by both teams, SMU outlasted UConn, 62-50, on Saturday at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, the Huskies' second-highest scoring game of the season.
"We tried to make it a shootout and outscore 'em if we could, but we weren't able to do that," UConn coach Randy Edsall said.
UConn senior quarterback David Pindell was outstanding, passing for 215 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 181 yards and two more scores. Sophomore running back Kevin Mensah led the UConn ground game with 184 yards and a TD as the Huskies (1-9, 0-6) piled up 365 rushing yards to add to the 215 through the air. Hergy Mayala caught two TD passes from Pindell, while Kyle Buss and Tyler Davis each gathered in one.
"I thought David Pindell played extremely well and Kevin Mensah did a nice job," Edsall said. "I thought our offensive line did a good job – you don't usually rush for that many yards unless they're opening some holes."
Trailing 31-10 at halftime, UConn made a valiant effort in the second half – outscoring SMU 40-31 -- but could not get enough defensive stops to catch the Mustangs (5-5, 4-2). SMU's impressive numbers included 315 rushing yards and 279 through the air.
"Defensively, it's the same thing," Edsall said. "We have one guy breaking down and then it's a big play. That's kind of been the story of the year for us. I thought the first half, physically, we had it handed to us defensively. Then I thought we at least picked it up a little bit physically, but then we missed some assignments. When we had a chance to make a tackle, we just didn't make it. Those are all the things we have to work on."
Despite SMU's potent offensive attack, UConn refused to give up. Trailing 52-31 early in the fourth quarter, the Huskies rallied to within 52-44 with 10:18 remaining. But the Mustangs tacked on a touchdown and a field goal over the next seven minutes to extend the margin to 62-44 and virtually put the game out of reach.
A late TD catch by UConn's Hergy Mayala accounted for the final score.
"Coach Edsall just talked to us at halftime and told us they wanted it more than us," said Pindell, who was 25-of-38 with 1 interception. "I think our mindset in the second half was to want it more than them. I'm proud of the team because they didn't give up and gave us a chance to win. Obviously we didn't, but going into next week, it gives us more confidence that we can stay in games."
Pindell has been a shining light for the Huskies this season, rushing for 1,115 yards and passing for 1,706, one of the finest seasons of total offense in UConn history.
"The guy's a competitor," Edsall said. "He loves to play the game, loves football. He's giving everything he has and being very productive doing it. But he works at it. He has very good ability, but he takes that ability and tries to make it batter. He's really had a good year, giving us everything he can."
The Huskies have two games remaining on the schedule – next Saturday at ECU (7 p.m.) and the season finale at home on Nov. 24 against Temple.
Team Stats
SMU 3, UCONN 0
SMU - ROBLEDO, Kevin 39 yd field goal 11 plays, 53 yards, TOP 3:29
SMU 10, UCONN 0
SMU - FREEMAN, Ke'Mon 39 yd run (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick), 6 plays, 82 yards, TOP 2:11
SMU 10, UCONN 7
UCONN - PINDELL, David 30 yd run (TARBUTT, Michae kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:46
SMU 17, UCONN 7
SMU - FREEMAN, Ke'Mon 5 yd run (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick), 5 plays, 76 yards, TOP 1:28
SMU 24, UCONN 7
SMU - BECKER, Ryan 3 yd pass from PAGE, Tyler (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick) 11 plays, 72 yards, TOP 3:49
SMU 24, UCONN 10
UCONN - TARBUTT, Michae 45 yd field goal 5 plays, 47 yards, TOP 2:42
SMU 31, UCONN 10
SMU - WEST, Braeden 6 yd run (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick), 3 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:57
SMU 31, UCONN 17
UCONN - MAYALA, Hergy 22 yd pass from PINDELL, David (TARBUTT, Michae kick) 9 plays, 81 yards, TOP 3:50
SMU 38, UCONN 17
SMU - JONES, Xavier 52 yd run (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick), 2 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:30
SMU 38, UCONN 24
UCONN - BUSS, Kyle 15 yd pass from PINDELL, David (TARBUTT, Michae kick) 8 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:50
SMU 45, UCONN 24
SMU - ROBERSON JR., R 6 yd pass from HICKS, Ben (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:56
SMU 45, UCONN 31
UCONN - DAVIS, Tyler 5 yd pass from PINDELL, David (TARBUTT, Michae kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:57
SMU 52, UCONN 31
SMU - JONES, Xavier 43 yd run (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick), 1 plays, 43 yards, TOP 0:09
SMU 52, UCONN 37
UCONN - PINDELL, David 48 yd run (TARBUTT, Michae kickblocked), 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:07
SMU 52, UCONN 44
UCONN - MENSAH, Kevin 19 yd run (TARBUTT, Michae kick), 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 1:58
SMU 59, UCONN 44
SMU - FREEMAN, Ke'Mon 3 yd run (ROBLEDO, Kevin kick), 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:23
SMU 62, UCONN 44
SMU - ROBLEDO, Kevin 30 yd field goal 7 plays, 36 yards, TOP 3:45
SMU 62, UCONN 50
UCONN - MAYALA, Hergy 14 yd pass from PINDELL, David (PINDELL, David passintercepted) 9 plays, 40 yards, TOP 1:20
