One More Time : When Ray Smith, Mike Edwards Meet Tonight, They Will Bring Big Credentials to a Big Opener

Already, before their senior seasons have even started, Ray Smith and Mike Edwards have accomplished enough to merit considerable attention.

They have won all-league, All-Orange County and All-Southern Section honors. They have been team leaders while varsity starters since their sophomore seasons.

Smith, a senior linebacker, always has stood out at Westminster High School. Perhaps it’s his full beard, or his 6-foot 1-inch and 245-pound frame.

Edwards, a senior at Valencia, has drawn rave reviews from coaches for his play as a defensive back and also as a tight end. One former Valencia assistant called him the “best he’s ever seen” at safety. He, too, appears to be a step above others his age.

Smith and Edwards face each other for the third, and final, time in their prep careers at 7:30 tonight when Westminster plays host to Valencia at Westminster Stadium. Each has played a major role in the previous two season-openers, both of which have been close.

In 1985, Valencia was highly ranked in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. poll, and Westminster had not made a playoff appearance since 1976.

Westminster gained a 7-6 upset and used the victory as a springboard, advancing to the Big Five Conference semifinals.

Smith helped the Lions stop Tiger running back Ray Pallares, who was to become the all-time leading rusher in Orange County history that season. Pallares did not score a touchdown and was limited to 98 yards that night.

A year later, in Valencia’s Bradford Stadium, the teams put together another thriller, tying, 14-14. This time, the Tigers were the underdogs as Westminster was touted as the team to beat in the Big Five Conference.

It was Edwards’ turn to star. He scored the game-tying touchdown on a four-yard pass early in the fourth quarter.

Considering it’s nonleague, the Westminster-Valencia game has become quite a rivalry in the past three years, according to Smith and Edwards.

“Out of all the teams we play in nonleague, they always impress me the most,” Smith said. “I have a lot of respect for their players, especially Mike.”

Smith’s reputation (meaning his size and, of course, the beard) preceded the pair’s first meeting.

“I didn’t see him up close when we were sophomores because I was just playing defense,” Edwards said. “He was intimidating, though. Especially in my junior year. I had to block him because I was playing tight end. Here’s this guy standing over you with a beard. That’s kind of intimidating.”

One player’s father, upon meeting Smith, thought he was 30.

Dave White, Edison’s football coach, will never forget his first meeting with Smith.

Said White: “The first time I saw him, he was playing varsity basketball and I said, ‘He looks like he’s 19. He doesn’t look like a senior.’ And somebody said he’s only a freshman. I couldn’t believe it. I said, ‘No way is he a freshman.’ ”

Jack Bowman, the Lions’ co-coach in charge of the defense, just laughs at such stories. He has heard plenty since Smith’s freshman year.

“Almost everybody does a double take when they find out how young he is,” Bowman said.

Smith, however, was born Jan. 30, 1970, which makes him 17.

It’s not just his appearance that makes him seem older. His play as a linebacker often rates a double take as well.

Smith was the Lions’ leading tackler as a sophomore when he was only 6-1, 217. He made second team All-Sunset League and was on the all-county second team that season.

As a junior, he led the team with 67 unassisted tackles and 45 assisted tackles. He also forced two fumbles and had two interceptions. He was named to the Times’ All-Orange County team last season.

John Sealy, who coached the defensive backs at Valencia last season and is now an assistant at Marina, told Bowman earlier this summer that Edwards was as good as any safety he’d seen.

Edwards has many such admirers.

Certainly, Edwards, who is 6-1, 190, has made a lasting impression on the Tigers’ opponents the past two years.

He was all-league in his sophomore season playing exclusively on defense.

As a junior last season, Edwards had seven interceptions at his safety position. He caught 22 passes for 271 yards, a 12.3-yard average, and 7 touchdowns playing tight end, a new position for him. He scored the only touchdown in Valencia’s title loss to Bolsa Grande.

Edwards was selected to The Times’ second team all-county last season as a defensive back.

“It’s like, my sophomore year I was just learning,” Edwards said. “Then as a junior I knew a lot. Senior year, you’re expected to do a lot more, though.

“My sophomore year, I was just happy to be on the team. We had a lot of great guys. Guys like Ray Pallares. I just wanted to contribute any way I could.”

This season, Mike Marrujo, the Tiger coach, has moved Edwards from tight end to wide receiver.

“I expect myself to have a great game every game,” Edwards said. “I don’t want to let anyone else down.”

The Big Game VALENCIA vs. WESTMINSTER

1986 RECORDS--Valencia (8-1-1), Westminster (5-5-1).

SITE--Westminster Stadium.

VALENCIA UPDATE--The names change, but the Tiger game plan doesn’t. The Tigers run right at, and usually over, the opposition. Junior Keef Leasure, who was the No. 3 running back last season, rushed for 558 yards in 1986 and will be the No. 1 back this season. On defense, Nacho Garcia and Mike Edwards form a solid secondary. Garcia had five interceptions and Edwards seven last year.

WESTMINSTER UPDATE--The Lions depend on their defense. Last season, Westminster gave up an average of 10 points a game and recorded four shutouts. Their defensive prowess showed again in their opening-game victory over Robert E. Lee of Springfield, Va. Ray Smith, a senior linebacker, returned a fumble nine yards for a touchdown, and the Lions forced two Lee fumbles and nine punts. Quarterback Bob Elliott threw a 54-yard touchdown pass.

KEY TO THE GAME--Valencia must get its running game going to win, whereas Westminster’s defense must stop the Tiger runners to have a chance. Leasure averaged 7.2 yards per carry as a sophomore last season.

CONSENSUS--If the past two games are an indication, expect a close, low-scoring game. Valencia should be the favored team. But the Tigers were highly ranked coming into the 1985 game and lost, 7-6. Last season, the Lions, who were the preseason pick to win the Sunset League, escaped with a 14-14 tie. However, the Tigers’ veteran players should provide enough punch to win.