VANCOUVER — Zack Smith is still focussed on earning the right to play two more games in his high school football career before he’ll stop and look back on what has been a decorated run.
In the meantime, however, the accolades continue to accumulate for the 5-foot-9, 160 pound senior quarterback of the Vernon Panthers.
On Monday, the BCSSFA named Smith as Double-A’s overall 2019 B.C. MVP based on a stellar season which continues Saturday (12 p.m.) at B.C. Place Stadium when he leads the undefeated, No. 1-ranked defending Subway Bowl champions into the semifinal against Parksville’s Ballenas Whalers.
Last season, as a Grade 11, Smith saw spot duty at pivot behind senior starter Thomas Hyett, and to show just how versatile an athlete he is, Smith largely lined up as a receiver on offence, and even caught a touchdown pass in the title game, a 47-12 win over Abbotsford’s Robert Bateman Timberwolves.
As well, later that spring, Smith suited up in the back court and helped lead the Panthers all the way to the B.C. senior boys Triple A basketball championship final where a largely Grade 11 Vernon team dropped a 46-44 decision to the North Delta Huskies. Vernon is expected to open at No. 1 when the new basketball season officially gets underway this coming Monday.
Of course Smith has plans on still playing one more football game at that stage.
It was back in 2017 that Smith, the son of Vernon head coach Sean Smith, quarterbacked Vernon to a 36-8 win over Ballenas in the B.C. JV Double-A final, making the Panthers the first-ever team from outside of Greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island to ever win a provincial JV football title.
And this past week, in a 56-6 quarterfinal round win over North Vancouver’s Windsor Dukes, Smith was at it again, rushing for three scores and passing for two more, while gaining a combined 340 yards both through the air and along the ground.
Ballenas quarterback Ben Chomolok, who opposed Smith in that 2017 JV title game at B.C. Place was Monday named the Double A B.C. MVP, while Uyi Ologhola, the defensive end from Surrey’s Holy Cross Secondary, was named the provincial Defensive MVP.
G.W. Graham offensive lineman Vince Ibardolaza, John Barsby defensive back Felice Toscano and receiver Austin Adams of Prince George’s College Heights Secondary were the only three underclassmen named to positions on the provincial all-star team.
Here’s a look at all of the selections:
BCSSFA PROVINCIAL ALL-STARS
AA
OVERALL MVP — Zack Smith (5-9, 160, QB, DB, Vernon, Grade 12)
OFFENCE
MVP — Ben Chomolok (6-2, 185, QB, Ballenas, Grade 12)
OFFENSIVE LINE
Dayton Boytillier (6-4, 300, Langley, Grade 12); Vince Ibardolaza (5-7, 215, G.W. Graham, Grade 11); Zach Rohan (6-3, 280, Langley, Grade 12), Brady Szeman (6-2, 240, Vernon, Grade 12), Gage Geiger (5-11, 250, Ballenas, Grade 12)
RECEIVER
Jacob Stockton (6-4, 175, Ballenas, Grade 12); Caden Danbrook (5-9, 165, Vernon, Grade 12); Austin Adams (5-8, 170, College Heights, Grade 11)
RUNNING BACK
Kai Thomas (5-9, 165, Langley, Grade 12); Jaiden Claassen (6-0, 205, G.W. Graham, Grade 12); Michael MacDonald (6-0, 215, South Kamloops, Grade 12)
QUARTERBACK
Ty Martens (6-1, 178, Robert Bateman, Grade 12)
DEFENCE
MVP — Uyi Ologhola (6-2, 210, DE, Holy Cross, Grade 12)
DEFENSIVE LINE
Liam Reid (6-3, 210, Vernon, Grade 12); Kaden Browne (6-1, 250, John Barsby, Grade 12), Mason Murphy (6-4, 305, G.W. Graham); Demar Hohnstein (6-0, 210, Ballenas, Grade 12)
LINEBACKER
Adrian Friesen (6-0, 185, Ballenas, Grade 12); Ciaran Davies (6-2, 225, Langley, Grade 12); Dayton Ingenhaag (5-11, 220, Clarence Fulton, Grade 12); Phoenix Moller (5-10, 200, Robert Bateman, Grade 12)
DEFENSIVE BACK
Trent Charlton (5-11, 170, Vernon, Grade 12); Colton Holt (6-1, 175, G.W. Graham, Grade 12); Felice Toscano (5-11, 155, John Barsby, Grade 12); Kaleb Reemeyer (6-1, 175, Langley, Grade 12)
OTHER TOP GRADE 11’S
Grayson Frick (5-10, 190, QB, G.W. Graham); Hayden Mathenson (6-1, 140, RB/LB, College Heights)
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