Newbury Park in a Winning State

Anyone who has watched Keith Smith work on a football field knows the Newbury Park High senior is a gifted quarterback.

Friday night he became the best in state history--at least statistically.

The Panthers’ All-American signal-caller broke the all-time state passing record in Newbury Park’s 41-20 victory over visiting Montebello in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division III playoffs. Smith, the state’s leading passer this season, completed 18 of 27 for 309 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception. He also rushed 12 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith has passed for 9,361 yards in his three-year career. He broke the mark owned by Chad Davis (9,332), who set the record from 1988-91 while playing at three high schools: Palm Springs, Del Mar Torrey Pines and San Diego Mira Mesa.

Nationally, Smith trails only Josh Booty of tiny Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, La., who entered Friday night with 10,970.

Smith was greeted with a standing ovation when he was removed from the game with six minutes to play.

“It’s really incredible,” Smith said. “I never thought about doing this. This season has just been great. It’s going to be a shock when it ends.”

It’s not over yet.

The top-seeded Panthers (12-0)--ranked No. 13 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports--play Bell Gardens, which defeated Peninsula, 20-17, in the Division III semifinals next Friday.

“I’ve been coaching for 14 years, and (Smith) is one of the two or three best I’ve ever seen,” said Montebello Coach Doug Rihn, whose team finished 9-3. “He’s really special. He’s incredible.”

That’s not news to Panther Coach George Hurley.

“I try not to think about him not coming back,” Hurley said. “He’s the type of kid who comes along once in (a coach’s) career.”

The Panthers put the game out of reach with 9 minutes 30 seconds left in the third quarter on Tony Robertson’s five-yard touchdown run. The score was 34-14 after a failed two-point conversion pass. Newbury Park receiver Leodes Van Buren--the state’s all-time leader in receptions and yards receiving--caught 10 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown.

Newbury Park was in a familiar position at halftime: ahead. The Panthers, who have led at the intermission of every game this season, owned a 28-14 edge.

Smith completed 12 of 18 passes for 222 yards and carried seven times for 60 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

Newbury Park opened the scoring with 8:48 remaining in the first quarter on a 12-yard pass from Smith to Van Buren. A two-point conversion pass from Smith to Jason Tucker gave Newbury Park an 8-0 lead.

The Panthers took a 14-0 lead four minutes later when Smith scored on a 24-yard draw play. Smith’s run capped a four-play, 86-yard drive. After a Montebello score, Newbury Park came right back, scoring on a one-yard run by Rich Adams on the first play of the second quarter.