LJ Johnson scores go-ahead TD to lift SMU past No. 22 Louisville
LJ Johnson's 1-yard touchdown run with 6:39 remaining in the fourth quarter lifted visiting SMU to a 34-27 win over No. 22 Louisville on Saturday in an Atlantic Coast Conference game.
The Mustangs (5-1, 2-0 ACC) drove 89 yards in 11 plays for the winning score. Quarterback Kevin Jennings, who accounted for 394 total yards, converted a key third down with a 6-yard run.
The Cardinals' last possession ended when Isaiah Nwokobia intercepted Tyler Shough's pass in the end zone with 2:29 remaining.
Jennings hit 21 of 27 passes for 281 yards and added 113 yards on the ground.
Shough completed 22 of 35 passes for 329 yards with two touchdowns and the late pick.
Ja'Corey Brooks had three catches for 121 yards and Ahmari Huggins-Bruce had five grabs for 82 yards for the Cardinals.
Isaac Brown rushed for 117 yards for Louisville, which fell to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the ACC.
In a game many expected to be high-scoring, SMU controlled the first half as Jennings played almost flawlessly while its defense kept Louisville mostly under wraps.
Each team scored on its first two possessions. The Mustangs got a 5-yard touchdown run from Roderick Daniels and a 10-yard scoring strike from backup quarterback Preston Stone to Key'Shawn Smith.
The Cardinals countered with Shough's 6-yard touchdown pass to Brooks and Brock Travelstead's 46-yard field goal.
SMU made it 21-10 when Jennings, who completed 12 straight passes to open the game, ripped off a 59-yard scoring jaunt with 6:56 left in the half.
After Travelstead's 41-yard field goal nudged Louisville within eight points, Collin Rogers drilled a 55-yarder just 23 seconds before halftime for a 24-13 Mustangs lead at the break.
This story was originally published October 5, 2024, 5:22 PM.
