Arizona Makes All the Big Plays, Upsets Third-Ranked SMU, 28-6

Southern Methodist had the big reputation, but Arizona made all the big plays.

The Wildcats turned two SMU fumbles into touchdowns in a 21-point second quarter and upset the third-ranked Mustangs, 28-6, Saturday night.

“Big plays were our No. 1 companions tonight,” Arizona Coach Larry Smith said. “We made the big play all night long,” Smith said.

Arizona (4-1) scored three touchdowns in a span of 11 minutes to take a 21-6 halftime lead.

Tailback David Adams, a 5-foot-6, 168-pound junior, carried 22 times for 136 yards and Arizona’s first touchdown. Adams came within two yards of the total rushing production of SMU’s tailback duo of Reggie Dupard and Jeff Atkins.

“Adams’ performance was certainly courageous,” Smith said. “When he got extra yards on several carries in a row, it picked everyone up.”

Arizona quarterback Alfred Jenkins threw touchdown passes of 13, 30 and 26 yards, the last two to split end Jon Horton.

Arizona had scored only five touchdowns in its previous four games and only two of those through the air. Southern Methodist had averaged 45.5 points in its first two games this season.

The Wildcat defense clamped down on SMU, which came into the game as the nation’s total offense leader.

“We got beat in every phase of the game,” SMU Coach Bobby Collins said. “We tried to tell our players that this was a good ballclub, and now we all know how good they are.”

SMU drove 99 yards in the first quarter with Dupard scoring on a one-yard run.

Dupard rushed 17 times for 82 yards, about half his 156.5-yard per game average.

Arizona turned two fumbles into touchdowns in the second period. The defense also accounted for two fourth-quarter interceptions off Mustang quarterback Don King.

The Wildcats took a 21-7 lead when Jenkins connected on touchdown passes of 13 yards to Derek Hill and 30 yards to Jon Horton in the second quarter after Adams scored on a six-yard run on the first play of the second period.

Jenkins completed 13 of 26 passes for 177 yards, while King had 16 completions in 31 attempts for 247 yards. In the third quarter, Jenkins threw a 26-yard scoring pass to Horton.

The Wildcats rushed 38 times for 168 yards while holding Southern Methodist, which averaged 385.8 yards rushing per game, to only 141 yards on 44 carries.