Smith Rallies Newbury Park to Final, 43-26

The rest of the Southern Section is quickly finding out what football fans in the Ventura County area have known for quite a while: Beware of Keith Smith.

The Newbury Park High senior All-American quarterback passed for 385 yards and four touchdowns in leading the top-ranked Panthers to a thrilling 43-26 victory over Bell Gardens Friday night in a Division III semifinal game.

Smith--the state’s all-time leading passer--completed 25 of 40 to help bring the Panthers back from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit. Smith, who is also the state’s leading passer this season, threw two touchdown passes in each half. He also threw two interceptions.

“We have so much confidence in our offense we know we can score on any play,” Smith said. “We didn’t get scared because we know we can get six (points) at any time.”

Said Lancer Coach Dave Newell: “I’ve been coaching football for 22 years, and that kid is the best quarterback I’ve ever seen. Heck, he is the best football player I’ve ever seen.”

Undefeated Newbury Park (13-0) will play Hawthorne, a 44-20 winner over Buena, in the final next Saturday at a site to be determined. By winning, the Panthers tied Camarillo’s Ventura County record for consecutive victories, which was set in 1986.

“We showed that we can make the big play whenever we have to,” Smith said. “We just looked at each other when we were down and said, ‘Let’s go.’ ”

Smith mostly looked at senior receiver Jason Tucker.

With the Lancers (9-3-1) double-teaming more-celebrated receiver Leodes Van Buren throughout the game, Tucker made one big play after another. He finished with a game-high 13 catches for 190 yards, and was on the receiving end of three Smith touchdown tosses.

“I knew it would be my turn one of these games,” Tucker said. “They tried to keep up with (Van Buren) for the whole game, which just left me open.”

The Lancers jumped out to their two-touchdown lead behind senior tailback Junior Samano, who gained 160 yards in 24 carries and scored three touchdowns.

Samano raced 60 yards on the game’s second scrimmage play to help put Bell Gardens ahead, 7-0.

Smith’s first pass was picked off by defensive back Ricky Oropeza at the Newbury Park 38. Samano scored six plays later on a fourth-and-one play from the Newbury Park three.

Oropeza’s conversion kick gave Bell Gardens a 14-0 lead only seven minutes into the game.