Four years and 47 scores ago, Gettysburg senior running back Paul Smith set forth upon his football career with some simple goals in mind. He wasn't a superstar in high school and he didn't know that he would be one at this level.

There aren't any doubts any more.

Last Saturday, just two yards away from the Division III career all-purpose yardage record then held by Coe College's Carey Bender, Smith got a message from head coach Barry Streeter.

"Paul,'' said the 22-year veteran coach, "two yards isn't going to be enough today.''

"I know" was the response from the 5-7½ 200-pound fullback from Ventnor, N.J.

That was all that needed to be said.

A little more than three hours later, Smith's day was done. But what a memorable one it was.

He finished with 45 carries for 390 yards (the fifth-best total in Division III history) and scored six touchdowns, including the one that gave Gettysburg (2-5) the lead for good in its 42-28 upset win. His 137 yards combined from receptions and kick returns enabled him to unofficially break the all-division all-purpose yardage mark for a single game, previously set by Ferris State's Andre Johnson.

Additionally, he broke five team records and five Centennial Conference marks during the contest. Nobody's done it any better.

"I don't think," Streeter said, "that I've ever seen a performance like that. He was outstanding. Every time he touched the ball, he made plays. He usually has a good day. This was an unbelievable day."

On one play, Smith shed three would-be tacklers on a 47-yard touchdown run along the sideline. That came just a few minutes after a two-yard swing pass turned into an 80-yard touchdown reception.

"We have a play where he tries to split the linebackers after appearing to be in pass protection," Streeter said. "He came over and mentioned that (it was time to run it since Muhlenberg was in a 4-4). He turned it into a touchdown.

"We let him call the plays for the rest of the game," Streeter said, laughing.

There is something to be said for Smith's understanding of the way things work on offense. His knowledge makes up for a lack of size and may earn him a ticket to a tryout camp or two. So might the 4,803 career rushing yards, the 8,496 career all-purpose yards and the 57 touchdowns. "In college I started learning the offensive line,'' said Smith, who is on pace to graduate with a degree in business management and a 3.3 GPA,"learning what they did in front of me helped a lot. Now I can read blocks and can anticipate a lot better."

It has worked out far better than anyone would have ever imagined.

What's left to address?

"I'd like to win the next three games," said Smith, who as the first two-year captain under Streeter has always stressed team first. "I'm shooting for two more records -- the conference rushing record and the all-division all-purpose yard record. (The records) are kind of icing on the cake. I've had a lot of fun the last three years and I'm not done yet. It's been a blast."