There’s not much of a debate when it comes to discussing the most electrifying athletes within the WPIAL.
All you need to do is bear witness to the fine art that is the play of Woodland Hills junior Scoop Smith.
When the 5-foot-6, 145-pound wide receiver has the ball in his hands, everything around the stadium comes to a halt and all eyes zero in on Smith, because in an instant, he can turn nothing into something.
During Friday’s season-opening contest against Erie McDowell, pick any play from Smith and you’d find moments that were each dazzling in their own right, but one play defined what Smith can create.
It came on a kickoff as Woodland Hills trailed by six points late in the fourth quarter and there was no reason the ball should’ve ended up in the hands of Smith. However, Erie McDowell dumped a shorter boot around the 15-yard line.
As Smith moved up field, he drew the special teams unit into the middle. As the lanes closed, he spun and reversed towards his own sideline with his legs churning towards the 30.
Then, his mind and body shifted as he cut back towards the middle once again. With that, he slipped, but his right hand planted into the Wolvarena turf to keep him afloat. As Smith crossed midfield, it looked as if he was on his way to another kick return, but the Trojans kicker caught him around the 46-yard line.
While Smith was caught this time, it was the perfect package of how dangerous he is.
“He’s phenomenal,” head coach Brian Tarrant said. “He’s a phenomenal talent, phenomenal kid, phenomenal student.”
Smith did find the end zone on the first offensive snap for Woodland Hills on a play that has become a go-to for the speedster. Junior quarterback Cam Walter received the ball and quickly threw to the short side on a bubble route. Smith caught the pass, received a block and was gone for 80 yards down the sideline.
It was a play that the 100-meter WPIAL champion knew would work in his favor.
“We were talking about it all week watching the film. If they play off, we’re doing bubble first play of the game and they came out here and did that, so we were prepared for it and did it,” Smith said.
Those type of designs are implemented to suit Smith’s style and his early touchdown proved it can work to perfection.
“We got a ton of what we call operables where we want to get the ball out depending on the look of the defense. That’s Taylor Made for [Smith’s] style of play,” Tarrant said.
Although the bubble screen has become an effective choice, Smith can be just as lethal on any route.
“I’m a playmaker, so getting the ball in my hands is a big thing, but I don’t necessarily say it’s just a bubble or a now, it could be a slant, it could be a out. They definitely want to get the ball in my hands early,” Smith said.
Smith would make a house call for the second time on the night when he took a kick 99 yards. It was a return that started off with patience and then he planted his foot in the ground and took off down the sideline for explosive return.
“I seen them collapse, so I tried to trust my speed, bounce outside and everything worked,” Smith said.
Smith totaled seven receptions for 162 yards to go along with his pair of long scores and returns.
Woodland Hills is loaded with talent this season, including Smith who holds several Division I offers from the likes of Nebraska, UNLV, Toledo, Temple, UMass and Robert Morris.
His recruitment picked up after an exceptional sophomore campaign that saw him record 17 total touchdowns on 851 receiving yards and 94 rush yards and it will look to turn another page during his junior year.
