Warner Robins senior James Smith is making the most of his opportunities

If

the name doesn’t ring a bell that’s perfectly fine, Warner Robins senior running

back James Smith is more interested in becoming a household name on the football

fields of middle Georgia and beyond. After getting just 23 carries last year

-that’s an average of less than three carries per game during the eight games

he played for the 5A runners-up last season- James has more than tripled his

opportunities and he’s not planning on resting until the Demons are out of

games.

 

“At the beginning of the season my goal was to finish the year with

a state championship and get to 1,000 yards,” said Smith, who currently

has 593 yards on 76 carries as the second-string back behind starting back

junior Jahlen Rutherford. “I think I can accomplish both [goals] because

losing in the state championship last year hurt even though I didn’t

play.” From watching the state championship game on the sidelines in

Mercedes-Benz Stadium to possibly carrying the ball down the sidelines of

Georgia State Stadium in this year’s 5A state championship game, Smith has come

a long way.

There’s

a good chance Smith will be getting a chance to add to his yard total on Friday

when the Demons host the Jonesboro Cardinals. This season has been a revelation

for Smith who achieved career highs in carries, yards, and touchdowns (4) all

while making the most of his final season of high school football. ‘I’m feeling

like I’m getting as much as I can with the touches I am getting,” said

Smith. “I’m just making the most of my carries this season.” The 9-1

Region 1-5A Demons have had the luxury of having multiple backs and a potent

passing attack but it has been the timely addition of Smith that has made an

already good team even better. “That’s why I try to make the most of every

carry when I run,” added Smith. Against Harris County Smith had his first

multi-touchdown game. “It’s like pent up energy from the last four

years.”

 

There’s

something Smith likes about being a running back -he’s played in special teams

and in the defensive backfield in the past- that no other position on the field

can duplicate for him. “Everybody is looking at you and you have to put on your

best show,” said Smith, who doesn’t have any 100-yard games this season

but has multiple games of nearly 100 yards. Something that had not happened

during his junior season. Smith still remembers how it felt to watch the Demons

lose in the playoffs at Griffin High School as a freshman. That was the last time

the Demons finishing a season no worse than second on the state. He didn’t play

that game, but things are different now. Much different.

On

Thursday afternoon the Demons had a walk-through. Smith knows that his career at Warner

Robins will continue on a game-to-game basis from this point forward. He’s not

wasting a single carry or chance to learn. “This year we are working on

blocking and I take it seriously because I want to be on the field as much as

possible,” said Smith. “I love the game, I just love getting the

ball, having the ball in my hands and making plays.”

On Friday night the bulk of the carries will go to Rutherford and the passing game will be the

Demons first scoring option but there will be opportunities for Smith and he

will make the most of them when they come. “The feeling of the ball in my

hands, I mean I can play defense, special teams, but once the ball is snapped

and then in my hands I just love it,” said Smith.

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