DALLAS (Interstat) — The SMU Mustangs, led by a dominant defensive effort and explosive plays from Chris Johnson Jr., defeated the Stanford Cardinal 34-10 on Saturday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

The Mustangs improved to 3-2 on the season, while Stanford dropped to 2-3.

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, an Oak Cliff, Texas, native, efficiently managed the game, completing 22 of 30 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Jordan Hudson, who caught five passes for 87 yards.

The game’s momentum shifted decisively late in the first half. After Stanford had driven deep into SMU territory but came away with no points, the Mustangs took over at their own 13-yard line with just 35 seconds remaining. On the next play, Johnson, a running back from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, broke through the line and raced 87 yards for a touchdown, stunning the Cardinal and giving SMU a 17-7 lead heading into halftime.

Johnson finished with 96 rushing yards and that critical touchdown on just five carries, adding two receptions for 42 yards and another receiving touchdown.

Stanford’s only touchdown came on a 14-yard pass from Ben Gulbranson to CJ Williams as time expired in the second quarter. Gulbranson, from Newbury Park, California, completed 22 of 40 passes for 278 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but was consistently under pressure, being sacked six times.

The Cardinal added a 34-yard field goal from Emmet Kenney in the third quarter to pull within 24-10, but could get no closer.

The SMU defense was the story of the game, harassing Gulbranson throughout the contest. The unit tallied six sacks, with Brandon Miyazono, Cameron Robertson, Jeffrey M’ba, Isaiah Smith, Terry Webb and Omar Staples each recording one. Staples, from Oakland, California, was a bright spot for the Stanford defense with a sack and three tackles.

The Mustangs put the game completely out of reach early in the fourth quarter when linebacker Justin Medlock intercepted a Gulbranson pass in the end zone and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown. Sam Keltner added a 48-yard field goal with 1:32 remaining to cap the scoring.

Defensively, SMU was led by safeties Ahmaad Moses and Isaiah Nwokobia, who each recorded 11 tackles. Stanford linebacker Jahsiah Galvan had a game-high 10 tackles.

The loss continues a difficult stretch for Stanford, which has alternated wins and losses through its first five games. SMU, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, rebounded strongly after a loss to TCU in its previous outing. The Mustangs were projected to win by the Interstat game simulator, though the final margin was wider than the 30-28 projection. Stanford had been a 19.5-point underdog pregame.

Stanford returns home to face Florida State next Saturday, while SMU travels to face Clemson.