By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
It was Shakespeare who asked what was in a name. The name to remember from Friday’s N10 showdown between Wynford and Seneca East was Smith regardless of which uniform he wore.
The Royals’ Wyatt Smith was named the Spitzer Motors Game Changer for the night, while Seneca East’s Bo Smith and Wynford’s Zach Hoffman were declared the McDonalds/Q92 Players of the Game.
The Wynford Smith was cited as the game changer for breaking open a close game with a pick 6 late in the first half to give the Royals some breathing room over the Tigers.
Here’s how WQEL’s color man, Jeff Roberts, described the big play.
“The Royals had taken a 14-6 lead against undefeated Seneca East when the Tigers attempted to get another score on the board in the final minute of the first half. Smith, a junior defensive back, jumped in front of a Seneca East pass and returned it for a touchdown to give the Royals a two touchdown advantage going into halftime,” Roberts said. “The Royals never looked back winning 35-12 to take control of the N10 Conference.”
It was the second score of the season for Wyatt Smith, who besides playing defensive back, also handles back-up quarterback duties and receiver for the Royals. Besides his eight catches on the season to go with two rushes, Wyatt Smith also registered 13 tackles and a forced fumble to go with his interception.
Bo Smith stepped in at quarterback early in Friday’s game because of injury. Smith rushed for 79 yards and threw for 46 more.
For the season he has scored nine touchdowns, including four as a pass receiver and leads the team with 28 receptions and 323 yards. Defensively, Bo Smith has 22 tackles for the Tigers, an interception, fumble recovery and forced fumble.
Zach Hoffman has done it all for the Royals and did again in Friday’s big win. Hoffman scored four touchdowns on the ground where he rushed for 241 yards. He was 6-of-7 passing for 52 more.
Spitzer Motors Game Changer of the Week award winners receive a T-shirt commemorating their performance and McDonalds Player of the Game honorees receive a gift certificate for two regular size value meals redeemable at either McDonalds of Bucyrus or Galion.
Each week for the balance of the local high school football season, Crawford County Now will feature winners of the Spitzer Game Changer of the Week and the McDonalds/Q/92 Player of the Game awards on Monday evenings as selected by Jeff Roberts and Josh Stallings.