Get your own Free Home PageWINSTON-SALEM -- Smith's football team found its Moses Friday night in its conference opener with Parkland.
Dasharn Russell caught the game's opening kickoff at his own 1-yard line in the middle of the field. Suddenly, the middle of the field opened for the Golden Eagle return specialist as if the Red Sea was being parted by Israel's ancient liberator. Russell raced untouched for a 99-yard touchdown before many in the homecoming crowd had even gotten to their seats.
"Dasharn's kickoff return set the tone for the night," Smith coached Tony McKee. "We had a good feeling after that."
Although Parkland would vault to a 15-13 second-quarter lead, the 11th-ranked Golden Eagles (1-0, 4-2) controlled the rest of the game. The offense managed four sustained marches, including a 92-yarder. Smith totaled 390 yards, with quarterback Duane Taylor completing 9-of-14 passes for 189 yards and two scores.
"It was by far our best offensive performance of the season," McKee said. "Parkland is a good football team and Brandon Isaiah is a super back, the best in our conference. But for the most part Parkland did not have an answer for our scores."
Isaiah, last year' Piedmont Triad 3-A offensive player of the year, for his part finished the night with 148 yards on 25 carries. That included a 1-yard touchdown run. He had 94 of those yards in the first half. The Mustangs got 145 yards in the second half, but most of those in the air.
In addition to Taylor's passing, Smith was led by the running of Russell and fullback J.J. Thompson. Russell had 66 yards on 15 carries, though for the second straight week he had a long TD run called back because of a Golden Eagle holding call. Thompson, Smith's sophomore workhorse, rushed for 87 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns.
"J.J. came up big," McKee said. "Parkland just didn't want to tackle him in the second half. Seven yards a carry is not too shabby."
Meanwhile, the defense, though burned early on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Monte Purvis to Tim Bristow, was steady the rest of the way. Linebacker P.J. Southerland was the big hitter on this night with 16 tackles. But he had plenty of help. Shamaree Brown had 10 tackles and Brandon Summers added eight hits, including a sack. Wesley Tyler had five tackles and nearly picked off a Purvis pass. Eric Wooten, playing for the injured Brian Burgess, had two tackles and an interception. Ray Reid and Antonio Williams were strong in the middle, combining for 12 hits.
Smith finds itself tied with conference favorite Carver and Glenn for first place after the first week of the league campaign. Up next is winless Western Guilford, which prevented Smith from making the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs last November.
"We still have a payback factor with Western," McKee said. "This is a big game for us. We need to win a few in a row and get on a roll."
Next Friday night's game at Western (0-1, 0-5) will start at 7:30. The Hornets lost to Carver 34-0 Friday night. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable items to be collected for Hurricane Floyd relief efforts.
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