Dwight Smith "Smith holds Championship Trophy"
The Forest Blade
Swainsboro’s very own Dwight Smith No. 47 was spotlighted on ESPN holding Middle Tennessee State University New Orleans Bowl Championship trophy after the game. Smith is a defensive tackle on the Middle Tennessee State University‘s Blue Raider Football Team. Middle Tennessee beat Southern Mississippi 42-32 (December 20th) in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl before a national television audience on ESPN in a game that proved to be as entertaining as expected.
It was only MTSU's second bowl appearance in its Football Bowl Subdivision era, in addition to their historic bowl win, the Blue Raiders and Head Coach Rick Stockstill also notched a record FBS 10th win, finishing the season with seven straight wins and a 10-3 record. Middle Tennessee fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, but held Southern Miss to only two field goals in the second and third quarters to take its first lead 21-20 in the FBS bowl in the third quarter. After the sluggish start, the Blue Raiders, who had only five active players with bowl experience, eventually settled into the national spotlight and proved to be the dominate team that was advertised. Smith finished the game with 4 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss, had a key pass deflection late in the 4th quarter as the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles attempted to make a comeback. Dwight is a junior and has played all three years as a Blue Raider starting his sophomore and junior years.
He is the son of Geraldine Huston Smith and the late David L. Smith, Sr.
Swainsboro’s very own Dwight Smith No. 47 was spotlighted on ESPN holding Middle Tennessee State University New Orleans Bowl Championship trophy after the game. Smith is a defensive tackle on the Middle Tennessee State University‘s Blue Raider Football Team. Middle Tennessee beat Southern Mississippi 42-32 (December 20th) in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl before a national television audience on ESPN in a game that proved to be as entertaining as expected.
It was only MTSU's second bowl appearance in its Football Bowl Subdivision era, in addition to their historic bowl win, the Blue Raiders and Head Coach Rick Stockstill also notched a record FBS 10th win, finishing the season with seven straight wins and a 10-3 record. Middle Tennessee fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, but held Southern Miss to only two field goals in the second and third quarters to take its first lead 21-20 in the FBS bowl in the third quarter. After the sluggish start, the Blue Raiders, who had only five active players with bowl experience, eventually settled into the national spotlight and proved to be the dominate team that was advertised. Smith finished the game with 4 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss, had a key pass deflection late in the 4th quarter as the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles attempted to make a comeback. Dwight is a junior and has played all three years as a Blue Raider starting his sophomore and junior years.
He is the son of Geraldine Huston Smith and the late David L. Smith, Sr.
