Smith carries Cobras to 5-0
LAKE WORTH — Park Vista left no doubt on Friday night. The Cobras are for real.
Behind a gritty performance from quarterback John Smith, the Cobras knocked off reigning 10-8A district champion Atlantic 23-20 to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2012.
The junior quarterback carried the ball 29 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Park Vista offense. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound signal caller looked like a battering ram out of the backfield, constantly pushing forward for extra yardage after initial contact.
With his team trailing 20-14 midway through the third quarter, Smith scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 18-yard run and then picked up a late first down to secure the victory.
“John is a Division 1 athlete,” Park Vista coach Brian Dodds said. “That’s why we put him at quarterback — to put the ball in his hands. You sawthe heart at the end, actually willing himself to get the first down at the end to win the game.”
With the victory, the Cobras have won eight consecutive games dating back to last season— the longest active win streak in Palm Beach County.
“For our program, it’s a very, very big win,” Dodds said, pointing out that Park Vista had not beaten Atlantic in his 11 seasons there.
“It’s taken a while, and our players said, ‘Get the monkey off your back.’ We’ve been close, but we’ve faltered in the end, but tonight, we found a way to win.”
Park Vista struck first in the opening quarter. After a 17-yard third down run by
Smith, Corey Cola scampered in from5 yards out to give the Cobras a 6-0 lead with 6:54 left in the first quarter.
After forcing an Atlantic three and out, Park Vista’s
special teams went towork. The Cobras blocked the ensuing punt, setting them up with great field position at the Eagles’ 10-yard line. Park Vista capitalized, scoring two plays later on a
Smith 5-yard quarterback draw to extend the lead to 13-0 in the first quarter.
Less than a minute later, the Cobras took advantage of another Atlantic mistake, recovering a Curtis Williams fumble on the Eagles’ 29-yard line. But unlike the previous drive, Park Vista couldn’t turn the turnover into points. Rolling out of the pocket, Smith threw an ill-advised pass as he was about to be brought down and was picked off by the Eagles defense.
After the interception, Atlantic brought Zavion Thomps oni nto theg ame at quarterback. The Eagles’ regular starter wasted no time, throwing a perfect 47-yard touchdown strike to Corey Gammage to cut the deficit to 13-7 with 1:13
left in the first quarter.
Park Vista immediately proceeded to drive downfield but squandered a golden scoring opportunity deep in Atlantic territory. The Cobras had 2nd and goal from the 1-yard line, but lost 18 yards on the next two plays with a bad snap and a sack. Park Vista then missed a 35-yard field goal attempt, giving the ball back to Atlantic.
Atlantic then took its first lead of the game as Thompson connected with Don’ Dre Swint for a 30-yard score, giving the Eagles a14-13 lead with 3:08 left in the second quarter.