SMU


SMU:

Quarterback Kyle Padron threw for a school-record 460 yards, leading Southern Methodist University to a 45-10 win over Nevada in college football's Hawaii Bowl on Thursday.

It was a triumphant return to the postseason after a 25-year absence for SMU, which has slowly recovered after its program was terminated in 1987 for illegal player payments.

The 18-year-old Padron, who was 32 of 41 and completed two touchdown passes, was confident and composed on the biggest stage of his young career.


He earned the starting job after Bo Levi Mitchell was injured in the seventh game of the season and was largely unknown.


The Mustangs, who were 1-11 the previous two years, have their most victories since their last postseason game, in 1984.


The 12-point underdogs dominated from the start, jumping out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and building a 38-0 advantage by the third.


Padron had 303 yards passing in the first half alone, breaking SMU's bowl record of 281 yards by Chuck Hixson in 1968.


Padron's 17- and 2-yard touchdown passes in second quarter gave SMU a 31-0 lead at the half and had Nevada searching for answers. The 17-yarder was to Emmanuel Sanders, who had seven catches for 124 yards.


Sanders finished his career as SMU's career leader in receptions, touchdown catches and yards.
Shawnbrey McNeal added 63 yards rushing and three touchdowns, including two in the first quarter. He also had seven receptions for 53 yards.


The loss was the fourth straight in the postseason for Nevada, whose top-rated rushing offense in the nation was grounded. But it was the Wolf Pack defense that struggled.


While SMU racked up 534 yards of offense, Nevada was held to just 314. Their 137 yards rushing contrasted with a season average of 362 yards.


That was a result of having running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott absent, through ineligibility and injury respectively.


Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick couldn't get anything going on the ground or through the air. Kaepernick, who rushed for 1,160 yards in the regular season, had just 23 yards rushing on 13 carries.
Kaepernick was 15 of 29 for 177 yards. He threw a 10-yard TD pass with a minute left in the game.

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