RIVALRY WIN TO REBELS
Smith scores in OT, then blocks extra-point attempt as Rebels edgeMeteors
A hip flexor kept T.F. South’s Michael Smith on the sidelines for large parts of Friday night’sgame, but the junior running back/ linebacker played through the pain to reign in overtime.
Smithscoredona 1-yardtouchdownrun and then blocked an extra point to seal the visiting Rebels’ 14-13 South Suburban Blue win over T.F. North.
“It’s a rivalry game, and we wanted this win really bad,” Smith said. “I had to go out there and do it formy team.
“After the touchdown, they toldmethey needed me on the kick block. I had to run in there and make another play. We couldn’t have won this without all my teammates stepping up, though.”
T.F. South (4-0, 2-0) won its first four games to open the season for the first time since 2010.
On the first play of OT, Kamron Clayton threwa 9-yard pass to DiondreTrotter. That set up Smith’s 1-yardTDon third down.
“We struggled on offense, but we went into overtime knowing we had to have intensity andmake plays to win thisgame,” Clayton said. “I knew after we completed that pass that Michael would get it in for us.
T.F. North (1-3, 0-2) answered with a 5-yard TD run by Kendi Young, but Smith broke through the line to block the extra point.
“I sawa gap between the center and the tackle, so I just ran through it and got in there,” Smith said. “Itwas a great feeling to win this game.”
T.F. South coach Bob Padjen was proud of Smith for gutting it out.
“He was playing at about 50 percent,” Padjen said. “We held him out a lot, but when” he got out there, he made plays. He’s one of the guyswe count on to do that.”
T.F. North scored late in the first quarter on a 52-yard TD pass from Caleb Green to Semaj Brown.
The Rebels answered with 28 seconds left in the first half on a 10-yard pass from Clayton to ChawnWilson.
Young rushed for 92 yards on 14 carries to lead the Meteors, while Green completed 7 of 13 passes for 109 yards.
Clayton completed 8 of 22 passes for 93 yards for T.F. South.
“They outplayed us, and they deserved to win,” Padjen said of T.F. North. “Sometimes it’s good to have the rabbit’s foot. Our kids persevered, though, so I give them credit.”
SteveMillar is a freelance reporter.