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Sunnyside's
Mike Smith pushes off a Sabino defender. |
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RENEE
BRACAMONTE/Tucson
Citizen
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Athletes of Week
Devils' Smith big producer
MICHAEL CACCAMISE
Tucson Citizen
Mike Smith is stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
Smith, a senior running back at Sunnyside, is the
younger brother of former Blue Devil and current Arizona Wildcat Xavier
Smith. And he's showing the same skills that made big brother a high
school name.
Smith is the Tucson Citizen's high school football
player of the week after a stunning performance in a 51-20 defeat of
Sabino on Friday.
Smith rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns and returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.
"He's been playing hard all year. He had a breakout
game," said Sunnyside coach Richard Sanchez. "A part of that, our line
did a better job; that helped him out. The kid is pretty intense. He
hates losing, and he plays with a lot of heart. He's a tough, hard-nosed
kid."
Smith shows the same skills as his older brother, but
hasn't received the same attention because he's a lot smaller at 5 foot 9
and 180 pounds.
He was called up for the playoffs during his sophomore
year, and the first time he touched the ball he took off for a 56-yard
touchdown.
This season, Smith has rushed for 542 yards and eight touchdowns.
"(Xavier's) got the size on him. But I believe that
(Mike) got more of the competitiveness," Sanchez said. "Mike just hates
to lose at anything. He'll get vocal. He lets everybody know he doesn't
like to lose.
"(Against Sabino), it was almost like he said, 'Jump
on my back, and I'll take you there.' He ran the ball extremely hard. He
made some great cuts. That return, that was icing."
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