Fresno State Bulldogs vs Southern Methodist Mustangs Match Player Stats On Dec 24, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 24, 2012

SMU 43, Fresno State 10: Garrett Gilbert threw for a touchdown and rushed for another and the Mustangs shut down the Bulldogs’ high-powered offense to win the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

Gilbert threw for 212 yards and rushed 18 times for 98 yards, and Zach Line tied Eric Dickerson for the most rushing touchdowns in school history with 47 as SMU (7-6) snapped the Bulldogs’ five-game winning streak.

Defensive end Margus Hunt had two sacks and two forced fumbles for the Mustangs, who held Fresno State to minus-24 rushing yards. The Bulldogs (9-4) entered the game averaging 40.2 points, but they converted just 4 of 14 third downs and committed four turnovers.

Line rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries and put SMU ahead 19-0 on an 8-yard touchdown run with 5:24 to play in the second quarter. The Mustangs led 22-0 at halftime before Fresno State scored on Derek Carr’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams with 10:21 left in the third quarter. Carr finished 33-of-54 for 362 yards and two interceptions.

Gilbert answered on SMU’s next possession when he capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Darius Johnson, and the Mustangs returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. SMU returned eight interceptions for touchdowns this season, which ties the FBS single-season record set by Southern Mississippi in 2011.

GAME NOTEBOOK: SMU improved to 15-0 when scoring first over the past two-plus seasons. …Fresno State RB Robbie Rouse, who rushed for 1,468 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, was held to 26 yards on 14 carries. …SMU coach June Jones improved to 5-1 in the Hawaii Bowl, including five straight wins.