Big oil leak problem near filter

[gmc4x4can]

Ive only put about 500 miles on my truck since I bought it. About 300 miles ago, had a big leak somewhere around the oil filter after burning through half a tank of gas that day. Chugging up a hill on the highway smelled oil look back and theres a cloud behind me and oil gauge is dropping fast. Pull over, find the oil filter is loose, tighten it hand tight, pour a quart in and limp it to town to get the filter changed hoping it had just blown the oring or something. They do all that truck has been fine last 300 miles.

Today drove about 200 miles back home, highway and smaller paved roads up hills ect no problem. Get to town at empty, usually add a quart every tank and it was just above add so i poured it in. Drive around town pick up gf all is good, then about 10 miles after i filled up we pull into safeway and i smell oil again, park and theres a good drip under the truck. Wipe it up best i could, limp back home most of way, last part is 1 mile all up hill in third gear at 2500 its smoking like crazy, get to the top get in the driveway and its a mess underneath, dipstick is back down to add line. Ill start it tomorrow and look for the leak, all i could find tonight was a rub mark on the filter from the clutch rod, maybe it barely rubbed through. Im pretty confused how it rears its ugly head so randomly. Luckily ive been close to town bot times. Is my clutch rod supposed to be in inner or outer hole? Or does it even matter?