Alex Padilla, Southern Methodist Football News: Draft Scout Player News

11/13/21 - QB Alex Padilla, rSr/2024, Southern Methodist

Alex Padilla threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his first career start, and No. 19 Iowa withstood three fourth-quarter comeback attempts to beat Minnesota 27-22 on Saturday. The Hawkeyes (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) led 24-16 before Minnesota's Tanner Morgan threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Chris Autman-Bell with 5:28 to play. The Gophers (6-4, 4-3) went for the two-point conversion, but Morgan's pass was tipped by Iowa safety Dane Belton and fell incomplete. The Gophers got the ball back at their own 10-yard line with 3:08 left. Morgan was sacked for a 7-yard loss on second down, and his fourth-down pass was broken up by Iowa's Matt Hankins.

Caleb Shudak's 29-yard field goal provided the final margin, and then the Hawkeyes' defense bowed up one more time when Minnesota drove to the Iowa 39. The game ended with Joe Evans sacking Morgan. Padilla's 1-yard touchdown dive in the second quarter put Iowa up 10-3. He threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Jones early in the third quarter to give the Hawkeyes a 17-13 lead. "Going out there in the first half, seeing the entire crowd in Kinnick for my first start, (I was) just super excited," Padilla said. "Couldn't imagine being in this position when I was a kid, but it was something I have always dreamed of." Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said among the players and coaches, there wasn't much talk about Padilla getting the start. "We just acted like it was his turn, his time. He is the starter this week," Ferentz said. "He's an even-keeled guy, as you've seen. I thought he did a good job." Jones was impressed with the pass Padilla threw him for the touchdown. - Iowa/AP College Football

rSr/2024