DALLAS – Jax State junior quarterback Logan Smothers has been named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the week, the league office announced on Monday.
 
The Muscle Shoals, Ala., native, led the Gamecocks to a thrilling overtime win at Sam Houston last Thursday,  Sept. 28, to keep Jax State undefeated in CUSA play.
 
 Following a 21-7 halftime deficit, Smothers directed a strong second-half rally passing for 181 yards and three touchdowns going 13-for-16 after the intermission. He also ran the ball seven times for 17 yards and another score. Smothers' 37-yard scoring strike to Michael Pettway made it a 21-14 game, before he scampered in from 16 yards out to cut the deficit to 21-20 midway through the fourth quarter.
 
Facing a 28-20 deficit with 1:11 to play, Smothers drove the Gamecocks 75 yards in eight plays and just 58 seconds, going 6-for-8 for 75 yards with a 28-yard touchdown strike to Perry Carter with 11 seconds to play. That set up his scramble and pass to find Quinton Lane in the back of the end zone on the two-point conversion that sent the game into overtime, when he connected with tight end Sean Brown on a 24-yard scoring pass that ended up being the game winner.
 
After Jack Dawson has twice earned CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week, and safety Jeremiah Harris and lineman Chris Hardie earned Defensive Players of the week, Smothers becomes the first Gamecock to collect CUSA's Offensive Player of the Week honors.
 
The Gamecocks return to action this Wednesday, Oct.  4, at Middle Tennessee on ESPNU.