Collegio Online

Smith's season over

Jamie Arthur, Collegio Sports Editor

Media Credit: Adam Vogler/Collegio Pittsburg State University quarterback Mark Smith is helped off the field by PSU trainers after breaking his left arm during Pitt State's first possession of the game. Backup quarterback Geno Waters led the Gorillas to a 29-14 victory over Washburn University, completing 13 of 18 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns. There's a slight sadness in Mark Smith's voice when he talks about the injury that ended his sophomore season. "It's going to be hard to deal for a while," Smith said from his parents' home in Pittsburg Tuesday morning. Smith, the Gorillas' starting quarterback, suffered a broken left humerus, above the elbow, on PSU's sixth offensive play of Saturday's 29-14 win over Washburn University at Carnie Smith Stadium. He underwent a 90-minute operation Saturday afternoon at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, where doctors inserted a plate and six screws to repair the fracture. He was released from the hospital Sunday night. "He's in a lot of pain," said his father, Chuck Smith, head football coach at St. Mary's-Colgan High School, where Mark was a two-time All-State quarterback. "He's hurting physically and hurting because he knows his season is over." Smith faces eight to 12 weeks of rehabilitation, but Chuck Smith says his son should be ready in time for spring drills in April. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound quarterback was carrying the ball up the right side of the field when he was tackled by Washburn's Trey Lewis (6-3, 290) and Jarod Tetuan (5-11, 198). After the play was over, Smith didn't get back up. Instead, he waved to the sideline for help. "I knew that when he was calling for help that he was injured bad because he's a tough kid and he always pops right up when he does get a little knicker bruise," PSU offensive coordinator Tim Beck said. "I've never broken a bone, but I knew it was broken because I've never had a pain like that before," Smith said. In the middle of an outstanding season in his first year starting for the Gorillas, he was rated second in NCAA Division II pass efficiency (206.6). He completed 58 of 84 attempts for 1,029 yards and 10 touchdowns. Including his brief stint in Saturday's game, he rushed for 291 yards and seven TDs. Redshirt freshman Geno Waters will make his first collegiate start against Fort. Hays State Saturday night. Waters, an Olathe native, threw for 236 yards and three scores in PSU's win over Washburn.

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• PittStateBriefs

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