DALLAS (SMU) - Despite 127 rushing yards from Keylon Kincade and a school-record 190 yards of kickoff returns from Jonas Rutledge, SMU fell 21-19 to visiting UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
SMU claimed the momentum early in the game, cruising to a 10-0 edge early in the second quarter. The swing was short lived, however, as UTEP blocked a Mustang punt and took the turnover in for a 31-yard score to narrow the margin to 10-7.
The Ponies were on the verge of extending the lead when Kincade took a Richard Bartel screen pass 55 yards and neared the goal line. The running back's efforts were thwarted, unfotunately, as a UTEP defender stripped the ball as Kincade attempted to cross into the end zone and gained possession. SMU's defense struck back quickly when they forced a UTEP safety on the ensuing play for a 12-7 lead. The safety was the first by the Mustangs since October 30, 1982. On that date, SMU's Kevin Chaney tackled Texas A&M's John Kellen in the end zone.
UTEP took the lead before the break on a 13-yard pass from Orlando Cruz to Chris Morrow and extended its lead early in the third quarter on an 86-yard screen pass to Howard Jackson.
Trailing 21-12, SMU struck back on another Kincade touchdown trot, this one from two yards out to make the final margin 21-19.
On a positive note for SMU, Rutledge became the school's all-time career kickoff return leader, passing Arthur Whittington (1,649). Rutledge now has 1,736 career yards. The senior corner also set an SMU single-game record with his 190 kickoff return yards. The previous record was held by Rodnick Phillips, who had 186 return yards at Wyoming on Nov. 2, 1996.
Keylon Kincade also passed Arthur Whittington (2,213) for eighth place on the SMU career rushing charts and now has 2,287 career yards.
