Washington last year lost the Public League Class AAAA championship, 13-6, to Northeast, on a touchdown that featured a trick-play pass from holder Lamont Davis to receiver Deion Barnes. Wood, meanwhile, advanced to a PIAA Class AAA semifinal only to be waxed by Allentown Central Catholic, 49-27, and the 602-yard, seven-TD performance of quarterback Brendan Nosovitch (419-5 in air, 183-2 on ground).
"Their story is better . . . Well, worse," Smith said yesterday. "Just for the simple fact they were there. So close to getting to the state championship game. But they couldn't pull through.
"This year, there'll be a whole different outcome, if we do make it that far. We've been talking about that again and again."
Smith is the among the final defenders and often the very last one. Whatever happens against ACC, or anyone else, as the powerful Vikings (6-1 overall, 303-62 scoring advantage) move forward, his performance will be crucial.
"Big responsibility," Smith said. "But I'm up for any challenge. All I have to do is play football and do what I'm taught and use all my technique. Don't miss a tackle . . . Don't miss a tackle."
Smith discussed that scenario while perched in a front-row seat in Wood's auditorium. Minutes earlier, flanked by family members and coach Steve Devlin, he'd pulled off the hat of his former youth-ball squad, the North Philly Aztecs, and replaced it with one from West Virginia.
The news conference, attended only by the Daily News, did not exactly break world records for length, much to the disappointment of his teammates.
A few minutes beforehand, an announcement over the school's PA system had advised the football players to return to class immediately afterward.
When star rusher Brandon Peoples sat down in the front row, he quipped, "Ask as many questions as possible."
