Smith boys make THS football a family affair

By Carrie A. Mizell

Every time the announcer called, “Smith to Smith” the three sandy-haired Smith boys playing football for Trenton High School would smile with pride.
“It’s pretty cool,” Caleb Smith says about playing football on the same varsity team with two of his three younger brothers.
Caleb is an 18-year-old senior who played wingback and safety this season. Caleb’s brothers, 16-year-old Jonathan, a sophomore receiver and corner, and 15-year-old Stephen, a freshman quarterback, also suited up on Friday nights as starters for the Tigers.

Brothers Stephen, Caleb and Jonathan Smith

It was an incredible season on the field as the team went 7 and 3, and also at home for the Smiths who knew they had each others’ backs on Friday night, but could then cut up and re-hash the finer points of each game on Saturdays.
“It’s a good feeling to know that your brothers have you covered,” Stephen said of playing quarterback.
Though they grew up playing Pop Warner football together, the 2010 season marks the first time the teenagers have played on the same team.
“The best part about coaching the Smith boys is that they are not only great players, but great individuals,” said Chris Baker, their football coach. “It’s easy to work with these guys on a daily basis, and I really have been lucky to coach them.”
The Smith brothers come from an athletic family; their father Shannon played football in high school and baseball in high school and college, while their mother Christine played softball in high school and was a cheerleader in both high school and college.
This year, Jonathan and Stephen have enjoyed a little friendly competition. Since both played defense for the Tigers, they had a running bet throughout the season to see which one could get the most interceptions. In the end, Caleb won with seven interceptions, to Stephen’s six interceptions.
The brothers share many things, including an easy smile and similar walk, but they don’t always agree on which football team to root for, especially when it comes to Florida vs. Florida State.
They do agree however that Wildwood was the best game of the 2010 football season since Jonathan racked up two interceptions and Stephen threw three touchdowns. The Tigers game against Dixie County was also memorable for the Smith brothers, who consider it a game they felt they should have won.
Caleb, Jonathan and Stephen consider their football coach Chris Baker an inspiration and say they have learned a lot playing football for him.
“He reminds us that what we do in the off season determines how good our season is going to be,” Caleb explained. “Last year was a bad year for us, but this year was such a good year that I feel kind of sad it’s over.”
Caleb said he is currently in the process of filling out college applications and hopes to attend a four year university where he will major in finance or pre-med, after graduating from Trenton High School in the spring.
“The Smith boys have been great leaders for our team, and a definite reason that we had such a strong season,” Coach Baker said.
As for next season, the freshman quarterback said it best, “The Tigers are coming!”
In the mean time, watch for Caleb, Jonathan and Stephen Smith on the Trenton Tigers baseball team in the spring of 2011, where they will once strive for victory.