Spring Break
Shot of Padron
Mustang defense, freshman quarterback lead SMU to third conference win
Nicole Jacobsen, Editor-in-Chief, njacobse@smu.edu
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Sports
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Filling in for injured sophomore quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, freshman quarterback Kyle Padron had his first collegiate start as he led the Mustangs to their third Conference USA win with 20 points in the second half.
The Golden Hurricanes' loss to SMU put them at three straight losses, their longest winless streak since 2004.
SMU (4-4, 3-1) struggled in the opening minutes, losing two fumbles. An interception by senior linebacker, Chase Kennemer, changed the Mustangs' momentum until SMU's Shawnbrey McNeal fumbled again to give Tulsa (4-4, 2-2) the ball on their own nine-yard line.
In what turned into a battle between defenses, SMU was able to hold off Tulsa until midway through the second quarter when Charles Opeseyitan rushed 13 yards for a touchdown.
In the first half, SMU totaled 168 net yards compared to Tulsa's 128-yard total. The Mustangs would go on to reach 429 total yards on offense while Tulsa would finish with 322.
Cole Beasley tied the score before the end of the half with a 49-yard touchdown reception. SMU then gained the lead with a 98-yard drive as McNeal caught a 36-yard touchdown reception to put the score at 14-7 in the third.
Tulsa's second touchdown came in the fourth quarter when Jake Collums caught a 13-yard reception from Jacob Bower to put the score at 17-13 in favor of SMU.
Padron threw for 354 yards. His longest-a 61-yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders-put SMU at Tulsa's 20-yard line, but two rushes by Zach Line and an incomplete pass to Sanders forced the Mustangs to kick.
Padron's total yardage also puts him in first place in SMU history for most yards in a first start.
Matt Szymanski, SMU's junior punter and kicker transfer from Texas A&M, had four punts over 50 yards. However, it was Tulsa who excelled in the kicking game, landing five punts inside the 20-yard line.
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