The Daily Gamecock

Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Sam Bennett/The Daily Gamecock Redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Smelley threw for a career-high 327 yards and three TDs.

After Carolina's 31-24 victory over Ole Miss was finished, redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Smelley sauntered into the media room with an enormous grin on his face.

After struggling through a 3-2 start and losing playing time to redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia, Smelley finally played the game that he wanted to play.

"I felt pretty good out there." Smelley said.

His results were better than just pretty good. Smelley went 22-for-32 for 327 yards with three touchdowns and just one interception.

"Chris threw some good ones," USC coach Steve Spurrier said. "I really like the way that he played in the fourth quarter there. [That] 96-yard drive may be the longest we've had around here to get us up by ten."

In the fourth quarter, Ole Miss punter Rob Park pinned the Gamecocks, who were clinging to a slim three-point lead, deep in their own territory when one of his punts took a favorable Rebel bounce on the 4-yard line. When the game was on the line, Smelley orchestrated a 95-yard touchdown drive to put USC up by a score of 31-21.

It was that kind of day for Smelley. On that pivotal drive he went 5-for-6 for 54 yards and a touchdown, which was a direct result of gutsy play by Smelley.

With Carolina facing a third and 4 on the Mississippi 4-yard line Smelley lined up under center.

Smelley rolled to the right, ducking and dodging oncoming defenders, all the while keeping his eyes trained downfield, searching for an open receiver in the end zone.

"It wasn't designed to be a scramble play," Smelley said. "I kind of got some pressure and rolled right, they all kind of eyeballed Jared [Cook] a little bit and Joe [Hills] was standing in the back of the end zone and I was able to dump it over to him."

Smelley and the USC offense may have found a couple other positives in Saturday's game. For one, the Gamecocks may have finally found a solid No. 2 receiver behind senior Kenny McKinley. Smelley seems to have a telepathic connection with redshirt freshman wide receiver Jason Barnes, who had seven receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns, marking the first multi-touchdown receiving game for a Gamecock this season.

"Jason Barnes is a receiver that I definitely trust throwing the ball to," Smelley said. "I mean, you saw the catch that he made where he about got knocked out of the game in the back of the end zone. It was an amazing catch."

All in all Smelley threw three passes that went for more than 25 yards, more than his season total and every other quarterback on South Carolina's roster combined.

"It was a good win for all South Carolina Gamecocks." Spurrier said.

However, judging by the broad smile on Smelley's face during his post-game interviews, it appears that this win was just a little bit sweeter for some Gamecocks than others.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools