DMN - True freshman grit: Backup QB leads SMU over Tulsa

[PonyPride]

True freshman grit: Backup QB leads SMU over Tulsa

By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

TULSA, Okla. – SMU quarterback Kyle Padron is a freshman, complete with rosy cheeks.

But in his first career start, on the road at that, the former Southlake Carroll standout showed an innate presence to withstand pressure and make plays when it counted most to lead the Mustangs to a major win Saturday.

Starting in place of injured Bo Levi Mitchell, Padron threw for 354 yards – the best debut by a quarterback in school history – as SMU beat Tulsa, 27-13. Padron finished 20-of-30 with two touchdown passes and no interceptions, and SMU outscored Tulsa, 20-6, in the second half in front of 21,714 at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

"He made a couple of throws when we had to have them; that was pretty awesome," SMU coach June Jones said of Padron. "Winning conference games on the road is really, really a defining time for any team."

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[westexSMU]

Young QB Kyle Padron was awesome in his first start and our Defense played great. The receivers caught the ball ! Great WI N on the road guys ! GO MUSTANGS ! Win the rest of the games, then WIN your BOWL GAME !

[SMU21TCU10]

He looked so legit rolling out then throwing it when I thought he was going to run!

[davidpaul123]

"Perhaps the biggest difference for SMU showed up in third-down conversions. SMU was 7-of-19 for the game, but it was 5-of-10 in the second half."

Probably the most important stat of the game considering our ineptness on 3rd down this year.

[BleedingRed+Blue]

True. The improvement on third downs was huge yesterday.

GO MUSTANGS!