Collegio Online

Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Shiho Itooka/Collegio Harrison Kush, right, congratulates Pierce Curran after a touchdown during the Saturday game against Emporia State. PSU won with the score of 62-0 at Carnie Smith Stadium.

Media Credit: Shiho Itooka/Collegio Pierce Curran dives for a touchdown while A.J. Franklin from Emporia State grab him. PSU won 62-0 at Carnie Smith Stadium.

If someone had told the Emporia State Hornets that the Gorillas would be showcasing their passing game in Saturday's 62-0 victory, they might have called the Pitt State team's bluff.
Behind junior quarterback Mark Smith's 324 passing yards and five touchdowns, the Gorillas gained 538 total yards, their highest total all season.
It didn't take long for the Gorillas to get the show started, as six plays into the game Smith found junior receiver Marques Nelson for a touchdown, kicking the game off in style with a 7-0 lead.
Smith then found the end zone, first from the ground on a 21-yard scamper, and then with a 7-yard completion to senior wideout Pierce Curran to place the Gorillas up 20-0 with 13:06 left in the second quarter.
Smith finished out the quarter by finding senior tight end Brian Barta for two touchdowns from four and three yards respectively. Caleb Farabi also found paydirt by sleeking through for a 4-yard touchdown run to close out the half at 41-0.
Junior fullback Brandon Clark was on the receiving end of a 48-yard strike from Mark Smith, who ended his day with 324 passing yards, making him the first quarterback in more than two years to surpass 300 yards.
Freshman tailback Tyler Riggs capped off the Gorillas' victory with an 8-yard touchdown run to finish the score at 62-0.
Senior safety Adam Contreras said he was glad he finished playing the game the same way he started it.
"With the game being that lopsided, it allowed us to come out as a team and play the game as it was intended to be," said Contreras. "We went out and played like it was our first time. We just had some fun and really enjoyed what was for a lot of people their last organized game of football."
For Contreras, playing in his last game gave him the opportunity to leave his mark on his position, a chance he was glad to have.
"I studied hard, watched some game film and coach asked us what we wanted to be remembered as, and I just wanted to be that crazy Mexican safety," said Contreras.
Out of the 14 seniors featured on the squad, perhaps no one had a bigger game than receiver Pierce Curran.
Curran, who caught seven passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, moved into second place on the career receptions list, behind Harlon Hill trophy winner Ronnie West. Curran also moved into fifth place in career receiving yards.
"I actually had no idea until after the game when someone came and told me about it, but it's a very special thing for me nonetheless," said Curran. "It's strange to accomplish that in my final game, but it really draws everything to a close ... but a happy one at that."
The Gorillas finish the season at 8-3, and say goodbye to 14 seniors.

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