Cornell quarterback John Smith passes for another personal best in victory over Beloit

MOUNT VERNON – John Smith grinned from ear to ear when he heard the news.

The senior quarterback was pleasantly surprised about the significance of his latest performance. For the second straight week, he produced his career best single-game passing total.

“Really,” Smith said. “That’s news to me.”

Smith had another big week, passing for 276 yards and a touchdown and helping Cornell to a 36-24 Saturday afternoon at Van Metre Field of Ash Park. The Rams improved to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the Midwest Conference, producing their best start since 2014.

“I think we played hard,” Cornell Coach Dan Pifer said. “I told them there is no such thing as an ugly win. We’ll take it.”

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For Smith, he didn’t fade from last week’s 255-yard and five total TDs outing. Smith completed 74.3% of his 35 passes for his new personal best and hitting six receivers. He also added 10 yards and a 1-yard TD on the ground. He was quick to praise his teammates.

“It just shows the team I have around me,” said Smith, who received an academic scholarship and made the 2,000 mile trek from Hoopa, Cali., to continue his football career. “The lineman are able to protect me and give me time to make the right reads. I have playmakers all around me, so I’m thankful for everything I have pretty much.”

Smith appreciates stepping on the field. He has worked for these opportunities that he walked away from previously.

Smith told Jack Carlson on the Hilltop Sports Report podcast that he quit as a freshman during the 2020 season canceled by the Covid-19 pandemic. He missed the sport and suited up with his friends, attempting not return for spring practice in 2021.

Pifer reminded Smith of how he left the program and he had to work his way back on the roster. Smith put in his dues as a manager in the fall of 2021, filming games and traveling with former wide receivers coach and current offensive coordinator Ryan Kaltenmark.

“He’s a good kid,” Pifer said. “He’s a good leader. Kids like him. They voted him one of the captains. It speaks volumes for him and the respect he has on the team.”

Smith, who grew up admiring Stanford and Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck, started as the third string QB last season, taking the field when injuries sidelined teammates. He entered this season as the No. 1 guy and he’s certainly playing like it.

“I’m embracing being able to show up in the moment,” Smith said. “We had two quarterbacks go down in front of me and it’s ‘Next man up. That’s all I preach. At the college level, you have to be ready no matter what. That is what I try week to week.”

Smith devotes four hours a day, dissecting film. He does the work off the field and reaps the reward in competition. He prepares for each team, trying to identify schemes and patterns.

“He puts in the time,” Pifer said. “You have to in that position. The best athletes still have to put in the time and know what the defense is doing. You’re trying to find little tendencies and he’s doing that.

“The good quarterbacks know what the defenses do before they do it because they watched film and know. I think that’s given him an advantage.”

Smith displayed his improvement over the last year. He connected with Trey Birdsong for a 20-yard catch and run touchdown to cap the first drive of the game. Smith added a 1-yard scoring rush for a 23-3 lead with 17 seconds left before the half, capitalizing on a Savian Perez interception near midfield.

“He’s just making good decisions,” Pifer said. “I think he’s seeing the game well. It’s slowing down for him a little bit.”

Cole Reed led the Rams with nine catches for 114 yards. Birdsong was second with 77 yards on eight catches. Former Alburnett prep Gavin Soukup had 64 yards on six receptions. Smith has many capable targets.

“We have a good corps of receivers,” Pifer said. “They all can do something with the ball. They have their strengths, so we try to get them in those areas where they can do something with it.”

Smith orchestrated scoring drives of 75, 67 and 58 yards. Two concluded with Tony Gomez TD runs of 6 and 3 yards. The latter iced the game with 6:24 remaining. Daniel Abesames-Hammer added a 2-yard TD run in the second half.

Gomez had a game-high 127 rushing yards. He ran behind a front that helped melt the clock late and provide time for Smith to throw.

“I think it’s a sign of maturity,” Pifer said. “I think it’s a sign of the O-line getting better.”

The Rams are in a three-way tie for second place in the MWC. They are experiencing their best season in Pifer’s four years of rebuilding the program. Much work remains.

“We’re getting better,” Pifer said. “We have to keep building. We’re only halfway through the season. We still have five left. Once this game is over we move on, but it’s going well.”