GREENACRES – This was an easy one for Boynton Beach last night (Oct. 7).
At John I. Leonard, it was the Bobby Smith Jr. Show as the Tigers junior running led his team with 180+ rushing yards five total touchdowns in a 63-16 win over the Lancers.
One of Smith Jr.‘s best plays was a 35-yard touchdown run with 9:54 left in the third quarter. It seemed as if no one from John I. Leonard wanted to touch the Boynton Beach standout on his way to the end zone.
Smith Jr. just made that one so effortless.
This score – along with an extra point by kicker Derek Cole – gave Boynton Beach (5-1) a 42-8 lead that proved to be insurmountable.
But here’s the thing: Smith Jr. was not the only one in his family who made a big impact on this game.
Going back toward the end of the first half, it took just four plays on a quick offensive drive for sophomore running back Bobby Smith to finish it off with a spirited 7-yard touchdown run with just 50 seconds left.
An extra point by Cole sealed Boynton Beach’s 28-8 lead over John I. Leonard (1-5) that held going into the half.
And then at the 2:20 mark of the third frame, we got a 36-yard touchdown run from sophomore athlete Germain Horace. Cole’s extra point gave Boynton Beach a 56-16 lead.
Guess who provided the exclamation point in this one?
Remember this name folks: Bobby T. Smith.
The sophomore athlete is the third known member of the Smith family that stood out in a big way last night for Boynton Beach. He caught an interception and took it all the way to end zone for a 102-yarder that will not be soon forgotten.
To finish off the scoring magic for this majestic Thursday Night Showcase, Cole connected on the extra point to make himself 9-for-9 (100 percent) on his point after attempts.
“We don’t take competition lightly,” said Boynton Beach junior quarterback Tyrone Smith, a cousin of the three Smith’s who scored against John I. Leonard. “We just clicked. The chemistry was there. Everybody was just there as a group, as a team.
Smith Jr. has garnered 16 rushing scores in six games played, including the five from last night. He gave credit to a special unit for his success.
“It’s the offensive line,” Smith Jr. said. “It’s just the way they click so well. I could just see the holes and run straight through them.”
Boynton Beach senior offensive lineman Lasale Jordan spoke on how well his team’s rushing game performed against John I. Leonard.
“Down blocking, all the blocking,” Jordan said. “The running backs did good. Our quarterback did good throwing…When we run the ball, we just dominate.”
Boynton Beach finished last night’s game against John I. Leonard with 400+ rushing yards.
“Everything was clicking on all cylinders,” Boynton Beach senior offensive lineman Joseph Pagan said. “We just kept rolling. We had a game earlier this week and we had one just now. We just did not let it stop us. We just keep rolling.”
Boynton Beach head coach Clifford Fruge recapped his team’s overall performance against John I. Leonard.
“This was our second game of the week,” Fruge said. “We wanted to come out here and do the things that we do well. That’s what we did…It took us time to adjust on the defensive side. But overall we got what we needed, and that’s the win.”
OTHER THURSDAY FINAL SCORES: PALM BEACH COUTY
Mainland (Daytona Beach) 43, No. 8 Benjamin 20
Avant Garde Academy 58, Jupiter Christian 38
Olympic Heights 6, Spanish River 6 – TIE
PHOTO CREDITS: Xavon Christopher
