ANTONE SMITH
Florida State running back Antone Smith seals victory


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BY IRA SCHOFFEL
Miami Herald Writer
MIAMI -- After speaking with reporters for 15 minutes and then hopping on a cellphone to conduct a couple of radio interviews, senior tailback Antone Smith was looking to make one more dash.
It had been four long years since he disappointed his mother, Classie, by spurning his childhood favorite, the Miami Hurricanes, and signing with Florida State.
Four years of frustration. Four years of waiting to make good on the expectations that came with being the nation's top tailback at Pahokee High.
Saturday at Dolphin Stadium, the number four meant the four touchdowns he scored in leading Florida State to a 41-39 win.
''I'm feeling great, but I'm feeling even better for my mom,'' said Smith, who finished with 92 yards on 27 carries. ``To see her come down here and notice that we still can be successful against that team that she really wanted me to go to . . . I'm happy, she's happy, my family's happy.''
Smith became the first FSU player to score four touchdowns in a game since Greg Allen against Louisville in 1982.
Smith, who was frustrated coming off the bench during his first two seasons in Tallahassee, gained 114 yards in a losing effort against the Hurricanes last season. But he had not scored against his childhood favorite.
That changed about eight minutes into Saturday's game, when he scampered in from 2 yards out to give FSU a 7-0 lead. A 19-yard run extended that advantage to 14-0 early in the second quarter.
In the second half, Smith and quarterback Christian Ponder botched a handoff, which led to a Miami touchdown. But after a pep talk from offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, Smith scored his third touchdown -- a 5-yarder -- just three minutes later.
'He said, `I'm not mad at you,' '' Smith said. ``When he said that, it kind of opened my eyes up in that he really does [believe in me].''
The last touchdown was the biggest run of Smith's career. With FSU clinging to a two-point lead and just less than four minutes remaining, Fisher called for a handoff to Smith on third-and-goal from the Miami 20.
Fisher said he wanted to get in position for a field goal. Smith had other ideas, and his 20-yard touchdown run gave the Seminoles the cushion they needed.
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