Smith's 4 TDs carry Cougs

Two days of Tropical Storm Fay brought plenty of rain but no lightning to the Charleston area. It took Kayron Smith of North Charleston one play to change that.

On the game's first play from scrimmage Smith took a pitch from quarterback Denzel Myers and bolted 65 yards into the end zone. That was just the start of what would prove to be a wild night as the North Charleston Cougars defeated Military Magnet, 32-26, on a rain-soaked field.

Smith was also at the center of the biggest play of the night. With the Cougars trailing 26-24 and only 3:45 remaining, the offense faced a 4th and 15 from the Eagles' 30 yard line. After a North Charleston timeout, Myers hit Smith on a deep route for a 30-yard touchdown pass to give the Cougars the lead for good.

Smith finished the night with three rushing touchdowns (65, 20 and 8 yards) and three 2-point conversions to go along with his game-winning catch.

Asked afterward if there was any doubt who was going to get the ball in that situation, coach Jimmy Brown said, "Oh no. I just told Denzel to get the ball in the air and you had two great players making plays."

After Smith's dazzling play to open the game, the Eagles came right back. Military Magnet took the ensuing kickoff and drove 70 yards on 10 plays to cut the Cougars' lead to 8-6. However, the 2-point conversion attempt failed. The Eagles failed on each of their first three attempts.

Smith then ran for his second TD of the night, this time from 20 yards out to extend the Cougars' lead. That touchdown capped a 5-play, 59-yard drive.

The Eagles continued to come right back at the Cougars as quarterback Deantre Johnson hit sophomore Lorenzo Mehciz on a fourth-down touchdown pass. Again the Eagles missed the conversion attempt and trailed 16-12.

Mehciz ended the game with 63 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

The Eagles forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff but failed to capitalize after North Charleston's Richard Holmes picked off a Johnson pass at the goal line.

The teams traded third quarter touchdowns that would send the game to the exciting final stanza with North Charleston leading, 24-18.

Military Magnet took its first and only lead of the night with 7:34 remaining after Johnson hit Mehciz with his second touchdown of the night. This time, finally, the Eagles converted their 2-point conversation when Deandre Owensby bulled his way into the end zone, giving them the brief 26-24 lead.

This set up the dramatic touchdown by the senior Smith, who finished with 204 rushing yards.

North Charleston travels to Bishop England next Friday.