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Smith captures ACC honors

College notebook

Date published: 12/1/2009

By Steve DeShazo

BY STEVE DeSHAZO

One of the worst seasons in Maryland football history didn't stop Torrey Smith from earning individual honors.

The sophomore from Stafford High School was named to the all-Atlantic Coast Conference second team yesterday both as a wide receiver and specialist. Voting was conducted by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

One of the few standouts on a 2-10 team, Smith broke former Virginia star Thomas Jones' ACC record for single-season all-purpose yards (2,192)--but so did Clemson's C.J. Spiller, who has 2,207 with two games left.

Smith averaged 183 all-purpose yards per game (fourth in the nation) and 25.7 yards per kickoff return (with two touchdowns), even though opponents rarely kicked to him late in the year. With two seasons of eligibility left, he already holds ACC records for kickoff return yardage in a season (1,309 this year) and career (2,398).

He also caught 61 passes for 824 yards and five TDs.

MORE FOOTBALL

Three former local players were named to the all-Big South second team defense: VMI's Josh Wine and Byron Allen (both Massaponax) and Liberty's Asa Chapman (Orange).

Allen, a sophomore defensive back. led the Keydets with 93 tackles. Wine, a junior defensive lineman, was fourth with 63 stops. Chapman, a sophomore defensive lineman, made 40 tackles for Liberty.

Liberty junior guard Alex Stadler (Liberty High) also made the second team.

Shenandoah senior linebacker Joe Lunsford (Spotsylvania) was named to the all-USA South Conference first team and its all-sportsmanship team. He led the Hornets with 91 tackles, including five for loss.

Southern Illinois freshman Stevie Strother (Eastern View) gained 17 yards on four carries and caught a 1-yard pass in a 48-7 win over Eastern Illinois in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. The Salukis (11-1) host William & Mary this Saturday.

More end-of-year stats:

Vanderbilt senior linebacker Brent Trice (Orange) made 82 tackles (fourth on the team) and recovered a fumble in 2009.

Indiana senior linebacker Justin Carrington (Liberty) made 32 tackles and recovered a fumble.

Junior Delano Green (James Monroe) averaged 12.7 yards per punt return (with two touchdowns) for Temple (9-3), which is hoping for its first bowl bin since 1979.

Date published: 12/1/2009