It was 7 months ago when Aveon Smith knocked the state high school football world on its ear.

Before a televised audience, the White Knoll senior quarterback and Miami of Ohio signee put on a homecoming performance for the ages.

Facing off against a high-powered Gray Collegiate offense led by Clemson quarterback commitment Hunter Helms, South Florida signee wide receiver Omarian Dolleson and sophomore running back KZ Adams, Smith more than held his own with 9 touchdowns (5 passing, 4 rushing) and 450 total yards in a 68-42 win.

“It was a big time matchup between a couple of really good QBs and it was his chance to steal the stage which he definitely deserved,” White Knoll head coach Dean Howell said. “Even in that, he showed his worth as a teammate by understanding it wasn’t about individual battles as much as a team battle and he was quick to point that out.”

1st half fireworks

Watching the rebroadcast by WACH 57 on April 17, Smith called his performance a ‘blessing’. If anything, he said the Timberwolves were more concerned about keeping pace on both sides of the football.

“We knew we could score,” he said. “We were averaging 40 points a game before (Gray Collegiate). It was just that they had a strong offense. They had a good quarterback and a good receiver. A pretty good running back.

“We focused on containing them, keeping our defense off the field and keeping points on the board. That’s what we did.”

The 2 teams came out firing to start the 1st half. Gray Collegiate scored on its opening drive, a 53-yard touchdown pass from Helms to Dolleson.

Smith answered on White Knoll’s 1st possession. On the 2nd play from scrimmage, he rolled out the pocket, turned upfield and sprinted 62 yards for the score.

The War Eagles and Smith exchanged points 3 more times in the 1st half. With the score tied and 13 seconds left, Smith barged into the endzone for a 1-yard score to give White Knoll a 34-28 halftime lead.

“We had a nice drive right before the half where we ran it every play and took up 5 minutes to get the last possession before the half which resulted in points,” Howell said.

Smith did not have a chance to enter the locker room during the intermission. He served as an escort during the homecoming ceremonies.

“Best player on the field”

White Knoll opened the 2nd half with 21 unanswered points to take a commanding 55-28 lead. Helms ended the scoring run with a 36-yard catch and run touchdown pass to Dolleson with 15 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.

He finished with 412 passing yards, 209 courtesy of Dolleson on 12 receptions.

Cramps following a 71-yard run in the 4th quarter finally forced Smith out of the game. Backup Jaelin Gray found David Caulder with a 7-yard touchdown pass for the Timberwolves’ first TD without Smith.

He returned for the next series and completed a 47-yard touchdown pass to Caulder for White Knoll’s final touchdown.

If not for leaving the series early, Smith could have tied the SC High School League’s single-game record for touchdowns set by Byrnes High’s Shuler Bentley in 2013.

Instead, Smith set a school record and tied Austin Scott (Spartanburg) and Frank Byrd (Mayo) for the 2nd most in state history.

“He was the best player on the field most nights he ever played, and that night was certainly no different,” Howell said.

Aside from conversation from some colleges, Smith said he did not receive additional offers. The contest was also his swan song with White Knoll as Smith suffered a seasonending injury the following week against Chapin.

Smith remains at home rehabilitating his knee and hopeful to play as a freshman at Miami of Ohio.

He feels for his fellow seniors who did not have an opportunity to complete their final season at White Knoll.