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SMU Offensive Line Earns PFF Honor After Fueling 59-Point Win Over Cal
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- SMU Offensive Line Earns PFF Honor After Fueling 59-Point Win Over Cal
(smumustangs.com)
DALLAS - Kevin Jennings supplied the touchdown passes, and Kendrick Raphael helped finish the drives. Now the blockers behind SMU's offensive breakthrough are getting their recognition.
The SMU offensive line earned Pro Football Focus ' Offensive Line of the Week honor following Saturday's 59-20 victory over California at Ford Stadium.
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The award highlighted a performance that gave the Mustangs room to run and kept their quarterback largely out of trouble.
SMU rushed for 256 yards and a season-best five touchdowns, providing the foundation for its highest-scoring game of the year. Cal managed just one sack as the Mustangs accumulated 492 total yards.
"SMU was dominant up front on the offense," the school said in announcing the honor Monday.
The grades supported that assessment. SMU's announcement listed an 81.6 rushing grade and an 85.5 mark in pass protection, reflecting production in both phases rather than a strong afternoon built around one approach.
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That flexibility mattered because this wasn't a comfortable game from the opening kickoff.
The Mustangs trailed 20-17 at halftime before scoring 42 unanswered points. They reached the end zone on their first six possessions after the break, turning a competitive ACC matchup into a decisive victory.
Raphael carried 22 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass, giving him three scores against his former team.
Freshman Christian Rhodes contributed 41 rushing yards and the first two touchdowns of his college career. EJ Kelly added another rushing score, spreading the production beyond SMU's leading back.
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Jennings benefited from that support while completing 16 of 23 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns. His performance lifted his career passing touchdown total to a school-record 74.
For the offensive line, the most encouraging part was how its work translated into finishing possessions. SMU could attack through the air without abandoning the ground game, and its backs repeatedly converted opportunities into points.
Garin Justice, SMU's offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator, oversees a group that now has a nationally recognized performance to build upon.
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The next challenge is carrying that execution away from Dallas. The Mustangs visit Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 31, with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2.
At 6-1 overall and 4-1 in ACC play, SMU has meaningful opportunities ahead. Reproducing Saturday's protection and rushing production would give Jennings and the offense a strong platform for the stretch run.
