Former UCLA running back TJ Harden had himself an unforgettable moment on Saturday, scoring a walk-off touchdown to defeat No. 10 Miami as the SMU Mustangs ended their Homecoming Day the right way with a big win to keep their hopes of an ACC title alive.
Harden finished the game with only 27 rushing yards on eight carries but he had much more success on the ground than the rest of his team, as SMU averaged just 0.9 yards per carry in the game. Harden added two catches for 15 yards but also had a crushing drop that ended a Mustangs possession.
Even with the drop, SMU was able to force overtime against Carson Beck and the Hurricanes. Beck would throw an interception on the first possession of overtime, putting the Mustangs in the driver’s seat. SMU would then successfully march to the 1-yard line, where Harden would punch it in from.
The crowd erupted, with fans rushing the field to celebrate the homecoming victory. While Harden’s stats on Saturday don’t jump off the page, he’s had a solid season after leaving the Bruins. He’s up to 456 rushing yards this season, averaging 4.2 yards per carry with five touchdowns. Through the air, Harden’s added 11 catches for 61 yards
Before transferring to SMU, Harden, the Los Angeles native, spent three seasons with UCLA where he racked up 1,658 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. His best season came as a sophomore under Chip Kelly, where he had 827 yards while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Harden saw his numbers take a hit last year under DeShaun Foster and hit the portal to join SMU.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Former Bruin running back TJ Harden gets walk-off touchdown to beat No. 10 Miami
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
