SMU quarterback Kyle Padron dives over the corner of the endzone after carrying the ball for SMU’s first touchdown of the game Saturday afternoon, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. (MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus) (2010 – Student Media Company)
SMU avenged a 2009 overtime loss to Pac-10 foe Washington St. with a 35-21 victory over the Cougars, Saturday afternoon at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Mustangs’ kick returner Darryl Fields got things started with an electrifying return to the SMU 44 yard line. A 15 yard personal foul penalty on Washington St. for a violent hit on wide receiver Keenan Holman, allowed the Mustangs to continue their opening possession.
In the red zone, quarterback Kyle Padron found daylight around the left side and dove into the end zone for the score. The 13 yard run completed a 9 play 56 yard drive and put SMU up early, 7-0.
Washington St. answered back late in the 1st quarter as quarterback Jeff Tuel found 6-4 wide receiver Jared Karstetter on a fade route in the right corner of the end zone with 54 seconds left to tie the game, 7-7.
The Cougars converted on two crucial 3rd downs along the way as Tuel found Karstetter on both occasions to extend the drive. A pass interference call on another 3rd down at the SMU 2 yard line also gave Washington St. new life down by the goal line.
In the second quarter, Tuel found wide receiver Marquess Wilson on an explosive 40 yard play to place the Cougars in perfect scoring position at the Mustangs’ 20 yard line. However, the SMU defense was able to step up and prevent Washington St. from any score as kicker Nico Grasu missed from 27 yards out.
Padron and the Mustang offense rode the momentum as SMU scored on a prolific 67 yard pass play to wide receiver Aldrick Robinson. The score gave the Mustangs a 14-7 lead, with a little over 3 minutes to go until halftime.
Just before halftime, Washington St. was able to convert for another touchdown, this time on special teams. A Cougar punt bounced off SMU returner Darius Johnson who was hit just as he was about to receive the ball. Washington St. safety Kyle McCartney recovered the fumble in the end zone to tie the game, 14-14 with just over 2 minutes to go in the first half.
The officials took another look at the play but determined that Washington St. linebacker Jamal Atofau was blocked into Johnson; therefore no penalty for interference was awarded.
The Mustangs were able to open up the scoring in the 2nd half with a 12 play 73 yard drive that lasted over 7 minutes. Padron completed 7 passes for 71 yards on the drive including a 10 yard strike to Johnson, which gave SMU a 21-14 lead late in the 3rd quarter.
SMU scored once again on their second possession of the 3rd quarter as Padron and Robinson hooked up for their 2nd touchdown connection of the game, this time on a 16 yard pass play giving the Mustangs a 28-14 right before the start of the 4th quarter.
The 2 play drive featured a 13 yard run by Padron who was driven down to the turf hard causing a 15 yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the Cougars. Padron bounced back from the hit and threw the touchdown pass on the very next play.
After no scoring early on in the 4th quarter, Padron once again found Robinson in the back of the end zone for their 3rd touchdown combination of the game, giving the Mustangs a 35-14 lead with just over 2 minutes remaining in the game.
The Cougars would not go away as Tuel connected with Wilson on 68 yard scoring play to cut the Mustang’s lead to 14 and make the score 35-21.
However, SMU recovered the Cougars’ onside kick attempt and ran out the clock to put the nail in the coffin.
Padron finished the game with 280 yards passing and 4 touchdowns while Robinson finished with 4 receptions for 111 yards and 3 touchdowns. The dynamic duo helped the Mustangs eclipse 30 points for the 2nd time this season.
Defensively the Mustangs were led by linebacker Taylor Reed who recorded 10 tackles and helped shut down Washington St. in the 2nd half.
SMU will move on to face TCU on Friday September 24 at 7 p.m. at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
