LJ FB: Smith going off

Max Smith, a freshman linebacker,
smothered Serra with 10 tackles.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

Max Smith has gone off the last couple of weeks.

Smith, a freshman linebacker in La Jolla's defense, raided Serra's offense to help spark a 56-26 Viking win Oct. 20 with 10 tackles, nine of those unassisted, including a sack and three tackles for a loss.

A week earlier, in a sparkling 21-14 win over Patrick Henry, the 160-pounder racked up nine tackles, eight of those solos, with one tackle for a loss. He also had a sack in that contest.

"He is one of the best defensive players I have ever seen," said an observer, "and he's only a freshman."

Only enjoying full-time status recently, having been elevated to the varsity originally to be a long snapper, Max ranks third on the team in tackles with 27, behind only seniors Tucker Jacobs and Johnathan O'Neal.

Late in the second quarter at Serra, Smith excelled. With La Jolla leading 42-13, Smith stopped Q's running back Myles Bryant for no gain on first-and-10. Then, on second down, Serra tried to go to the air but Smith, reading the play effectively, batted down quarterback Garrett Correll's pass to the right side. It didn't even show up on the stat sheet, but Smith's two plays stymied Serra's offense from moving the ball as the half ended.

Smith's sack came on third-and-five at midfield late in the first quarter, as he caught Correll in the backfield, the Vikings having just scored their second touchdown to take a 14-0 lead. Serra was forced to punt the ball away on the next play.

La Jolla scored its third TD a short time later, with Trevor Scully running in from the 10 on a quarterback keeper and a 21-0 lead.