Smith ties single-game for TD passes in Gator win over Hiram

Box Score

Meadville, Pa. - Oct. 6, 2001 - The Allegheny College football team rebounded from a heartbreaking loss last week with a 57-0 drubbing of visiting Hiram College today in front of 1,939 at Robertson Field. The Gator's sophomore quarterback Bubba Smith (Doylestown, Ohio/Chippewa) tied the Allegheny single-game record tossing five touchdown passes in the win. Smith tied the record previously set by Mike Ganey on October 18, 1969 in a 79-30 win over Carnegie Mellon.

The Gators, who dominated in all facets of today's game, tallied 16 points in the opening quarter, 28 in the second frame and 13 in the third quarter, while the Allegheny defense pitched its first shutout since last season's 50-0 win over Kenyon on October 14, 2000. The Gator "D" held Hiram to just 30 total yards on the day, which included a -50 on the ground.

The Allegheny defense posted 21 tackles for a loss in the game, including 4.0 sacks. Junior linebacker J.P. McFeeley (Cranberry, Pa./Seneca Valley) had seven total tackles, all for a loss, while junior cornerback Derek Vikara (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) had a pair of interceptions.

Offensively, the Gators racked up 557 yards of total offense, behind Smith's 14-of-24 passing for 244 yards and the five TDs. Smith connected with sophomore wide receiver Jon Turner (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) on nine receptions for 158 yards and three TDs, all career highs for Turner. Smith also threw touchdown passes to sophomore halfback Brian Woods (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) and junior tight end Mike Mong (Oil City, Pa./Oil City). The reception was the first TD of Mong's career.

Sophomore kicker Aaron Polack (Medina, Ohio/Medina) was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, connecting from 32, 34 and 24 yards in the game. Freshman tailback Jamie Sye (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) led Allegheny with 85 rushing yards on 11 carries, while Woods had seven carries for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Senior halfback Wyatt Jones (Detroit, Mich./Loyola) also added 46 yards on 10 carries.

The Gators improved to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference with the victory, while Hiram fell to 2-2 (0-2 NCAC). Allegheny is next in action at Kenyon College on Saturday, October 13, for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff, while Hiram hosts Oberlin College next week at 2:00 p.m.