The sixth Compass Bowl was played on Saturday, pitting the SMU Mustangs against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Pitt entered the game as five-point favorites, but it became clear early on that this was SMU's game.
Compass Bowl 2012, SMU Vs. Pitt Final Score: Huge First Quarter Leads To 28-6 Mustangs Victory
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The Mustangs came out of the gate right away, making a statement in impressive fashion as they scored 21 unanswered points in the first quarter. Quarterback J.J. McDermott hooked up with Darius Johnson within the first five minutes of play for a 50-yard touchdown pass. The Mustangs continued to pile on with goal-line touchdown runs by McDermott and Rishad Wimbley.
The second quarter was decidedly more subdued, as SMU was held scoreless and Pitt got their first points of the game on a 32-yard field goal by Kevin Harper. A second, much longer field goal attempt by Harper in the final seconds of the half clanged off the top of the goal post and sent the game to halftime with SMU leading, 21-3.
The third quarter would see the last scoring by either team, as Wimbley had his second touchdown of the game on another goal-line dive that capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive by the Mustangs. Harper once again put three points on the board with a 34-yard field goal to bring the score to 28-6, where it would remain until the end of the game.
An injury to SMU running back Jared Williams would cast a pall over the fourth quarter, as he suffered a horrific-looking broken femur on a hit by Panthers defender Andrew Taglianetti. The remainder of the game was subdued and without further score.
Williams ended up being the leading rusher in the game, with 40 yards on 11 carries.
For more updates and news on the 2012 Compass Bowl, please stay tuned to this StoryStream. For more from the Panthers, visit Pitt blog Cardiac Hill and SB Nation Pittsburgh.
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