Smith Steals the Show in the Last Act

Keith Smith may never pass--or run--this way again.

Smith, Newbury Park High’s prolific quarterback who entered Saturday night’s Southern Section Division III final against Hawthorne at Moorpark College already the state’s all-time leading passer, saved his best performance for last.

Smith, elusive as ever on a rain-soaked playing surface, dazzled an overflow crowd with clutch passing and electrifying scrambling en route to a 22-14 victory.

Smith was Smith. He passed for 259 yards, completing 16 of 34 for two touchdowns. He rushed for 157 yards in 13 carries, including an incredible 98-yard ad-libbed run for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter that put the game away and won’t soon be forgotten by an overflow crowd of about 7,000.

Most important, Smith’s heroics led Newbury Park to its first Southern Section football title and provided a storybook ending to a storied career.

“I don’t know what to say,” Smith said. “I can’t understand my feelings right now. It wasn’t my best game ever, but it was the most important.”

What it was, was a game for the ages, with Hawthorne driving to the Panthers’ 10-yard-line as time expired.

But then Hawthorne might have been up against a quarterback for the ages.

“Keith Smith is the best high school quarterback I have ever seen,” Hawthorne Coach Dan Robbins said. “And I’ve seen Pat Haden and Curtis Conway.”

All of which was the reason for several defensive adjustments by Hawthorne that ultimately proved futile.

The Cougars’ defensive game plan centered around two key changes:

--Strong safety Justin Stallings, the Cougars’ best at man-to-man coverage, moved to right cornerback to provide tight coverage on Leodes Van Buren and Jason Tucker, Smith’s primary targets.

--Linebackers Ka’vika Purcell and Kalisa Moala, two of the team’s best natural athletes, moved to defensive ends to provide a stronger outside rush and, hopefully, keep Smith in the pocket.

“We’re flexible,” Robbins said. “We make changes every week.”

Hawthorne’s secondary, led by free safety Omarr Morgan, the Bay League’s most valuable player, had intercepted a school-record 23 passes.

Morgan had six interceptions. Junior Kelvin Hunter had seven, including two in a playoff victory over Westlake.

When Hawthorne’s team bus arrived, Morgan and Stallings were among the first to step off. Neither wore his uniform, although Morgan wore his helmet with a sticker above the face mask.

“No fear,” Morgan said, pointing to the sticker.

Stallings wore a scowl.

‘We don’t think (Smith) is any good because he hasn’t proved anything against us,” Stallings said. “We read all this stuff in the paper like he’s already won the Heisman (Trophy) or something.

“If he does what he’s done against everybody else against us, I’d say he’s the best athlete I’ve ever played against. But until he does it against us, I just feel like he’s another quarterback.”

The Cougars frustrated Smith while taking a 14-0 first-half lead. Smith was sacked five times and was hit several times while throwing.

Morgan stepped to the fore to thwart one Newbury Park drive late in the first half, intercepting Smith’s pass at the Hawthorne 20-yard line.

All told, the Panthers appeared confused as they trotted to the locker room.

But the second half was Smith’s personal showcase. He threw one touchdown pass to Van Buren and another to Tucker to give Newbury Park a 15-14 lead.

Then, with Newbury Park facing a second and 12 from its two-yard line, Smith scrambled out of the end zone and into the Hawthorne secondary.

By the time Smith had finished zigging and zagging he had crossed the goal line with the final touchdown of his high school career.

And perhaps the most exciting.

“Just trying to avoid a safety,” Smith said with a shrug.

Stallings offered a shrug in defeat.

“He’s not all what they say he is,” Stallings said. “But he’s a good athlete. He’s a great athlete.”