SMU prevails over Memphis
DALLAS — Brandon Crossley picked off a Seth Henigan pass in the back of the end zone with two seconds left to preserve SMU's 34-31 win over Memphis on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both schools.
Henigan drove the Tigers 76 yards to set up second-and-goal at the SMU 9 with 14 seconds left, needing only a field goal to send the game into overtime. He rolled to his left and floated a pass intended for a receiver streaking along the end line only to have Crossley make a leaping interception.
Tanner Mordecai fired 24 yards to Rashee Rice early in the fourth quarter, then drove the Mustangs 66 yards in 12 plays to set up Collin Rogers' 23-yard field goal to take a 34-23 lead.
But Henigan answered by hitting Roc Taylor from 7-yards out, then finding Gabriel Rogers for a two-point conversion to pull Memphis within 34-31 with 2:36 left in the game.
SMU's Austin Upshaw pounced on the on-sides kick, but the Mustangs could not make a first down and punted, giving the Tigers the ball at their own 16.
Mordecai was 22 of 30 for 228 yards and two touchdowns and Tyler Lavine carried it 25 times for 64 yards and two scores to lead SMU (7-5, 5-3 American Athletic Conference). Rice caught 13 passes for 147 yards.
Henigan was 27 of 44 for 287 yards and a touchdown, with Javon Ivory catching six for 98 yards for Memphis (6-6, 3-5). Jevyon Ducker carried 10 times for 81 yards.
SMU won for just the fifth time in 15 meetings with Memphis. Since both teams joined the AAC, the Tigers lead the series 7-3.
UTSA 34, UTEP 31
Jared Sackett kicked a 28-yard field goal with four seconds left and the Roadrunners completed the first undefeated conference regular season in school history.
UTSA scored the last 20 points, and Sackett's late kick capped an eightplay, 73-yard drive that gave the Roadrunners their only lead of the game. Sackett also made a 51-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Frank Harris threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns for UTSA (10-2, 8-0), which entered having already clinched the C-USA regular season title and will host the conference championship against North Texas on Friday.
LOUISIANA 41 TEXAS STATE 13
Chandler Fields threw two touchdown passes and Louisiana-Lafayette became bowl eligible with a 41-13 victory over Texas State in a regular-season finale. Fields gave Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6, 4-4 Sun Belt) the lead for good in the first quarter when he threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Chris Smith for a 7-3 lead with 5:35 left in the first quarter.
MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR 24 TRINITY 17
Trinity's fifth-ranked football team was eliminated in the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
The Tigers suffered their first defeat of the season, falling to 11-1.