Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs SMU Mustangs Match Player Stats On Oct 05, 2019

It took No. 24 SMU more than three decades to climb back into the Top 25, and it took a circus catch by James Proche II for a 25-yard touchdown in the third overtime to keep the Mustangs undefeated in a wild 43-37 win over Tulsa on Saturday in Dallas.

Shane Buechele passed for 310 yards and two touchdowns in the win, which came after the Mustangs (6-0, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) erased a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs were quiet midway through the third quarter and had been thoroughly outplayed as Tulsa built a 30-9 lead after a 40-yard touchdown pass from Zach Smith to Keenen Johnson.

But SMU used Ke'Mon Freeman's 1-yard run and Buechele's 30-yard pass to Proche to get within seven with 8:24 to play. The Mustangs then forced overtime with 1:02 to play in regulation when Xavier Jones sprinted around left end for a 4-yard touchdown run on fourth down.

Tulsa had the ball first in overtime and scored on a 7-yard pass from Smith to Josh Johnson. SMU answered with a 3-yard TD run by Jones to push the game to a second overtime.

Jones then fumbled two snaps later, with the loose ball recovered by the Golden Hurricane's Damon Cannon, setting the table for a potential winning field goal. But Jacob Rainey missed from 43 yards out, forcing a third extra period.

The Golden Hurricane settled for a field-goal attempt after three plays in their ensuing possession as well, and switched to Zack Long for a 42-yard attempt that was wide left. Buechele then passed to Proche for the game-winning touchdown to keep the Mustangs undefeated.

Smith passed for 346 yards and four touchdowns for Tulsa (2-3, 0-1 AAC) but also uncorked three interceptions that allowed SMU to stay within reach in the first half.

Ar'mani Johnson's interception of Smith and subsequent 64-yard TD return gave SMU a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The Golden Hurricane answered with 16 consecutive points, the final six of which came when Kendarin Ray picked up a bouncing Tulsa kickoff and carried it into the end zone for an unlikely 1-yard fumble return.

Kevin Robledo's 32-yard field goal with 7:34 to play in the second quarter cut the deficit to 16-9. But Tulsa responded with a 5-yard scoring pass from Smith to Keylon Stokes and led 23-9 at the half.

--Field Level Media