HOUSTON (3-3, 2-1 C-USA) AT SMU (4-3, 3-0) A week off from being buddies

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:04 p.m. ET

foxsports

UNIVERSITY PARK - SMU quarterback Kyle Padron has sent David Piland, his high school buddy, encouraging text messages since Piland became Houston's starting quarterback Oct. 9.

Padron will take a one-week hiatus on offering support as the Southlake Carroll alumni - the latest in a proud line of Football Bowl Subdivsion quarterbacks from the school - face off Saturday in what remains a crucial Conference USA West Division showdown despite Houston's loss last week to Rice.

SMU (4-3, 3-0) is the only undefeated team in the division and Houston (3-3, 2-1) is the only West team with one loss. They tied for the West title last season, but the Cougars advanced to the league title game because of their 38-15 win at Houston.

It was in that game that Padron took over for injured Bo Levi Mitchell. The freshman became the starter and hasn't looked back.

So Padron can relate to Piland, a true freshman who became the starter after quarterback injuries devastated UH's depth chart, beginning with Heisman Trophy contender Case Keenum's season-ending injury in a Sept. 18 loss at UCLA. Backup Cotton Turner was also lost for the season in that game. Piland beat out Terrance Broadway to start against Mississippi State and has held the job since.

"I told him I knew what he was going through, to keep your head up and keep working hard," Padron said of Piland, "and that the game would slow down for him."

Piland took over for Padron when he suffered a season-ending hand injury as a high school senior in 2008. The two hung out last summer.

Piland will make his third start at SMU, looking for his first win. He's averaging 291.5 passing yards per game - so Houston can still sling it around - with five touchdown passes and three interceptions. He has completed 52 percent of his passes.

Padron has passed for 1,006 yards in the last three games and leads C-USA in passing efficiency with a rating of 139.5. He has 19 touchdown passes and six interceptions.

"He's got a good arm," Padron said of Piland. "He can spin the ball pretty well. We always used to joke around that he could peg somebody 50 yards away. He's got a cannon ... and he's pretty accurate, too."

Takeaways wanted: Coming off of last week's disappointing 28-21 loss at Navy, in which SMU led 14-0 at halftime, the Mustangs are focusing on takeaways. They haven't had any in the last two games and have seven in seven games this season, though that doesn't take into account SMU's six blocked kicks.

"We talk about it all the time and we've just got to do it," coach June Jones said. "It becomes an attitude."

Briefly: Senior cornerback Sterling Moore will find out more about his status after he reinjured his knee in practice. He could be lost for the season but has come back from similar injures sooner than expected twice previously.

2:30 p.m. Saturday (CBSCS)