St. Margaret's Smith is difference many ways

ONTARIO - Throughout the 2009 season, St. Margaret's junior quarterback Brennan Smith made big plays with his arm, hands, and feet when his team has needed them.

Smith's all-around contributions were a big reason that St. Margaret's now stands alone in county history for most consecutive CIF championships.

Smith twice preserved ties by blocking a field goal and an extra point, and his 11-yard scramble with less than two minutes remaining in the game clinched the Tartans fourth consecutive CIF title, a hard-fought 12-6 triumph over Ontario Christian in the CIF East Valley Division championship game Saturday night at Ontario Christian High.

"The team played together tonight," said Smith. "All the hard work we went this season through paid off at the end."

Smith's special team exploits began just past the midway mark of the first quarter. With the teams locked in a scoreless tie, he led a charge by the defensive line to block a 33-yard field goal attempt by Knights senior kicker Cristobal Pacheco.

Though he struggled to throw the ball throughout the first half, in large part because of an incessant driving rain and swirling wind, he helped direct the only scoring drive of the first half, which ended with St. Margaret's nursing a 6-0 advantage.

"I feel like I had the worst first half of my life, but my teammates helped pick me up," said Smith of his 2-for-8 performance.

St. Margaret's was penalized three times for personal foul infractions, including an roughing the punter penalty on junior tackle Bryan Flores that helped set up the Knights tying touchdown late in the third quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Ellis to Matt Struiksma.

However on the ensuing extra point attempt, Smith stormed around the left end, and with a flying dive blocked the attempt, keeping the game deadlocked at 6-6.

"We watched film and knew that they would block down and I came off the side and got a piece of it," he said.