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Smith Carries UCF To 34-17 Victory Against Southern Miss

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The Associated Press

Published: October 29, 2007

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Kevin Smith ran for 175 yards and two touchdowns and set five school records to help Central Florida beat Southern Miss 34-17 on Sunday night.

Smith, who entered the game as the nation's No. 2 scorer and rusher, led the Knights (5-3, 3-1) back into the Conference USA East Division race.

The 6-foot-1, 211-pound junior set the school career rushing record with 3,372 yards, breaking Alex Haynes' mark of 3,359 set from 2001-04. Smith also set marks for rushing and total TDs in a season (16), career 100-yard games (16) and had a school-record 43 carries.

Southern Miss turnovers set up both of Smith's first-half scores. The first, a 1-yard dive, came after Johnell Neal intercepted Stephen Reaves' pass. The second, a 5-yard sprint, was set up by Jeremy Young's fumbled snap.

Kyle Israel put the Knights ahead 21-10 with an 8-yard pass to Brian Watters with 1:28 left in the second quarter.

Southern Miss (4-4, 3-2) rallied briefly after Central Florida pushed its lead to 24-10. Tory Harrison's second touchdown run of the game cut the Knights' lead to a touchdown.
Central Florida answered with a 17-play drive that ate up 80 yards, and Israel threw his second touchdown with 1:03 left in the third quarter.

Reaves, a former Plant High star, finished 20 of 29 for 144 yards and three interceptions.

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