That kind of decision making will be important if Mercersburg is to improve on last year's 5-4 record. Smith said seven wins this season is within reach, but to obtain it he must play up to his potential.
"(Smith's) goals are like our team's goals -- we want to win," said Blue Storm coach Dan Walker. "I hope we have a balanced attack so that we don't have to throw the ball all the time. I expect (Smith) to make better decisions this year and I expect that when things go bad -- which they always do in every football game you ever see -- for him to pick up the team and keep them on track."
Smith is up to the task in his second year at Mercersburg. He's come a long way since he came to Mercersburg last season after attending Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pa., outside of Philadelphia.
With a year under his belt in southcentral Pennsylvania, Smith has bettered his preparation, his execution and -- perhaps most importantly -- his relationships.
"I didn't know anyone going into (last) season. Coming from a public high school, I had to develop bonds in a short period of time," Smith said. "All that helped, though. Now I can show people what other people were showing me last year, showing them what Mercersburg is all about on and off the field."
Once the season finally begins Saturday against St. Albans, Smith will only have to worry about showing opposing teams what Mercersburg is all about on the field.
For Smith -- who doesn't play a position on defense -- it starts and ends on offense.
"We've had to work on just knowing the offense a little more because on some plays we were a step behind," Smith said. "Right now, everyone has been sharp. We're starting to get to the point where everything is second nature."
Smith's leadership role is also becoming second nature. He learned it in 2007 and hopes to master it in 2008.
"You hear the metaphor in sports about being the quarterback and being a leader," Smith said. "Even in business, to be the quarterback of something means you want to get things done. This year, I know I'm the quarterback of this team."Â
