Super Bowl XXVII : THROUGH THE YEARS : Footnotes To History : XXII : TIMMY SMITH : WASHINGTON REDSKINS

The MVP in Super Bowl XXII was Washington quarterback Doug Williams, but the MSP surely was Redskin running back Timmy Smith.

MSP? Most surprising player.

Smith, an unheralded rookie from Texas Tech, set a Super Bowl record by running for 204 yards in the Redskins’ 42-10 romp over the Denver Broncos at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Williams, who drew a lot of attention as the first black quarterback in a Super Bowl, passed for 340 yards and four touchdowns, yet it was Smith who provided the perfect counterbalance to the Redskins’ stunningly effective air

show.

Smith scored touchdowns on runs of 58 and four yards, the 58-yarder coming on a play called a “counter gap” that was so wide open, Smith could probably have run to Escondido.

“I can remember that play,” Smith said. “I think every team in the NFL and at the college level is running that play now. I close my eyes and the only thing I can see is Joe Jacoby and Raleigh McKenzie pulling in front of me and nothing left ahead of me but hole.”

But as fast as Smith had zoomed onto the scene, he was gone.

A year later, the Redskins let him go and two years after that he was out of the league, leaving behind complaints about his work habits and rumors of alleged drug use.

Smith may be gone, but his accomplishments as a one-game wonder remain in the Super Bowl record book.

His 204-yard single game rushing total tops No. 2 Marcus Allen, who had 191 yards against the Redskins in 1984.

Smith’s 58-yard run is the second-longest from scrimmage, behind Allen’s 74-yard run in 1984, and Smith’s 9.3-yard rushing average is the highest except for Tom Matte’s 10.5 average in the 1969 game.

* 1988 AT SAN DIEGO

Washington 0 35 0 7 -- 42 Denver 10 0 0 0 -- 10

Den--Nattiel 56 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)

Den--FG Karlis 24

Wash--Sanders 80 pass from Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick)

Wash--Clark 27 pass from Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick)

Wash--Smith 58 run (Haji-Sheikh kick)

Wash--Sanders 50 pass from Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick)

Wash--Didier 8 pass from Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick)

Wash--Smith 4 run (Haji-Sheikh kick)

A--73,302

Winning Coach--Joe Gibbs

MVP--Doug Williams.