LJ FB: Smitty the one

La Jolla captain Max Smith,
prior to the Vikings' game
against Lincoln Oct. 18.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

La Jolla's Max Smith, as expected, has been named the Player of the Year in the Eastern League for the 2019 season.

Smith, a bruising 5'10", 195-pound linebacker who originally came up to the Vikings' varsity two years ago as a freshman to be Coach Tyler Roach's long snapper, then evolved into not only La Jolla's top defensive player but also an explosive running back to augment the offense, was recognized at the team dinner Sunday evening, Jan. 12, held at La Jolla Presbyterian Church.

Only a junior with another season in high school to look forward to, the likeable Max helped lead the surprising Vikings to the school's first league title since 1995, its first CIF title since 1993, and the first-ever Southern California championship in the 95-year history of the LJHS football program (since 1924; the school was founded in 1922).

On numerous occasions, Max provided a spark with a big hit on defense or a key play on offfense. In the season opener against powerful Bishop's, led by Notre Dame-bound quarterback Ty Buchner, Smith intercepted him and three plays later broke out on a 64-yard run for the Vikings' only touchdown in a narrow 18-9 loss in which La Jolla led 7-6 midway through the third quarter.

It was in week three of the young season, in a home game before a "Red Out" crowd at Edwards Stadium, when the Vikings began to depend on Smith as a core member of their offense. In an upset 28-14 win over a traditionally strong Santa Fe Christian program, Max rushed for two touchdowns, including one late in the fourth quarter to clinch the win when he literally pushed his defender the last few yards into the end zone.

The legend of Max Smith began on Sept. 14, 2018, in a game against Scripps Ranch at home. With 51.7 seconds left, the visiting Falcons leading 13-10, quarterback Ethan Nicholas and his offense went into a victory formation, the win all but secured.

Before the play, Smith asked a referee if he could go over the line after the snap. The answer was "yes". On the snap, Max leaped past the offensive linemen, grabbed the ball in mid-air before Nicholas could receive it, and downed it. La Jolla possession, time remaining on the clock.

On the next play from scrimmage, Viking quarterback Diego Solis fired a 31-yard TD aerial downfield to Smith, and La Jolla won, 13-10. No one on the sidelines had ever seen a snap stolen from a victory formation before. The winning Vikings were dumbfounded, as was defeated Scripps Ranch, and delirious.

Early in the awards ceremony Sunday night, Roach said, "We've never had to postpone a banquet before." He was referring to the Vikings' extended postseason which included five games all the way to the state championship tilt at Escalon (near Modesto). "I'm looking forward to getting some new banners for the gym (for the league, CIF, and Southern California titles). I'm so sick of seeing the banners for the other teams."

Smith didn't lead the upstart Vikings single-handedly. He had plenty of support. But the personable young man has the ability to lift those around him. That effect was evident as he matured even beyond last year's excellent season at linebacker, helping foster an atmosphere of confidence and success unseen by any recent Viking football teams.

On defense, while carrying a heavy load both ways, he posted 76 tackles, third on the team behind fellow linebackers Jack Wiese and Dirk Germon on a stout La Jolla unit under first-year Defensive Coordinator Charles Bussey.