Jett soars for Wellborn
- Updated: August 31, 2019
Smith runs for 5 TDs, throws for another and causes all sorts of mayhem on defense in shootout victory over Lincoln
By East Alabama Sports Today
LINCOLN – Jett Smith has had some big games during his Wellborn career, but none in his mind compared to the show he put on Friday night.
It was more like what didn’t the junior do in the Panthers’ 61-34 shootout win over Lincoln.
Smith, the son of Wellborn head coach Jeff Smith and brother of offensive coordinator Jud Smith, made an impact on both sides of the ball as the Panthers went to 2-0 for the second year in a row.
He rushed for 280 yards and five touchdowns on 12 carries, completed two of three passes for 66 yards and another touchdown, grading 95 percent. He graded 88 percent on defense after recording 11 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery
“This felt like the best game I’ve ever played in my life,” he said. “This was a big win and we really needed to get it. (Lincoln) being 4A, I feel like getting this win gives us a lot of momentum going into the season.”
Even his dad, the head coach, agreed, after polling the room, it was “the best varsity game he’s played.”
Smith’s touchdown runs covered 21, 44, 81, 7 and 43 yards. His touchdown pass covered 37 yards.
“Last week we won the game but I feel like we didn’t play to our full potential,” he said. “I feel like our whole team was just really hungry and was going to do a lot better this game. The whole team was just really focused when we came in this morning. I just knew we were going to have a good game.”
Calvin Spinks rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers rushed for 544 yards as a team and amassed 610 yards of total offense.
The Panthers broke away from a 7-7 tie with 27 points in the second quarter. They have scored 100 points in their first two games, the most in their first two games since scoring 112 against Gaston and Central Coosa in 2011. They scored 166 points in their first three games that season.
They play Weaver in their first region and first home game next week.
“I saw some boys grow into young men tonight,” Jeff Smith said. “It was hot, we had some of them cramping and they fought through that and kept playing. I’ll tell you that offensive line blocked and defensively, I know we gave up some points, but I thought we did a pretty good on open-field tackling. Lincoln shortened that score down to 14 points in the second half and we just pulled back and won it.”
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