SMU running back T.J. Harden rushed for a pair of touchdowns and the Mustangs rallied for four unanswered touchdowns after a mistake-filled start in a 28-10 victory over the Missouri State Bears on Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Mo.
After a 48-45 double-overtime home loss to Baylor last week, SMU (2-1) was looking to get back on track with a tune-up as a 28 1/2-point favorite over the Bears (1-2), who were playing their first FBS game as a Conference USA member.
Harden rushed 15 times for 96 yards and the go-ahead score in the second quarter.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 24 of 36 passes for 281 yards with a touchdown to RJ Maryland and an interception. Dramekco Green also rushed for a score.
Isaiah Nwokobia, Jaelyn Davis-Robinson and William Nettles each produced an interception.
Missouri State’s Jacob Clark was 23 of 37 for 275 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Dash Luke caught five passes for 80 yards and the Bears’ lone touchdown.
J.J. O’Neal had an interception while Thomas Anderson posted a fumble recovery.
The teams combined for three turnovers in a little more than the first five minutes of the game, but the only score was a 38-yard field goal by Missouri State’s Yousef Obeid.
With 2:59 remaining in the first quarter, Clark lofted a nine-yard fade to Luke for a 10-0 lead to stun the visiting ACC school.
The Mustangs finally put together a 12-play, 73-yard drive to get on the board with 3:48 left in the half. Green rushed in from six yards to cut the visitors’ deficit to 10-7. Then Harden found paydirt on a short run to put the Mustangs ahead 14-10 with 33 seconds left in the half.
The Bears mounted a 49-yard drive to start the second half, but SMU’s Davis-Robinson intercepted a corner route throw in the end zone on third-and-goal to prevent another Missouri State lead.
Harden put the Mustangs up by 11 by scoring his fifth TD this season on a 37-yard run with 3:08 remaining in the third quarter. Maryland iced the game by hauling in a seven-yard pass from Jennings in the fourth quartera.
