Week 3 Daniel Smith, Villanova
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Villanova University quarterback Daniel Smith, who played at Tuscarora High School in Leesburg, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week.
Smith, who was the DC Touchdown Club 2016 Virginia High School Player of the Year, has enjoyed a prolific college career. He set multiple school records while playing two seasons at Campbell University, then transferred to Villanova, where he has continued to make his mark, including being named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award, given to the most outstanding offensive player in the Football Championship Series subdivision.
This past Saturday, Smith added yet one more line to his resume, engineering a remarkable comeback in the final five minutes as he rushed for one touchdown and threw two touchdown passes as the Wildcats rallied to beat Richmond, 34-27.
Smith finished the game 26 of 40 for 350 yards and two touchdowns with four rushes for 19 yards and two more scores. He was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Villanova’s comeback started with Smith’s two-yard touchdown run that brought the Wildcats within 27-20 with 5:01 left. He then threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jaaron Hayek, tying it 27-27 with 2:02 remaining. Smith capped the rally with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Rayjoun Pringle (Hayfield Secondary School) with 38 seconds left.
It was the sixth time in his college career that Smith has had multiple touchdown runs and thrown multiple touchdown passes in the same game.
Smith will get a chance to perform on a bigger stage this week when Villanova (3-0) plays at Penn State.
This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week Honor Roll is:
· Clemson DL Bryan Bresee (Damascus HS) made four tackles and had 1 ½ sacks as the Tigers did not allow a touchdown in a 14-8 win over Georgia Tech.
· Alabama DB DeMarcco Hellams (DeMatha Catholic HS) made a game-high 11 tackles as the Crimson Tide held on to beat Florida, 31-29.
· Catholic RB Kevin Licciardi scored his first two touchdowns of the season in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals rallied for a 32-29 win over Endicott. Licciardi had a 24-yard touchdown run and a 50-yard touchdown catch in the final period.
· Maryland DL Greg Rose (DeMatha Catholic HS) had two sacks that helped force a punt and set up the game-winning field goal as the Terrapins beat Illinois, 20-17.
