By Rubin E. Grant
Evan Smallwood is quickly gaining a reputation as someone who thrives under pressure.
In the first two games of the 2022 high school football season, with his team trailing late in the fourth quarter, the Spain Park senior quarterback directed touchdown drives to give the Jaguars the lead.
In the opener against Calera, Smallwood spearheaded a nine-play, 70-yard march, capping it with an 8-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds remaining to give the Jags a 14-10 victory.
The next week against Briarwood, Smallwood led the Jags on a 90-yard scoring drive, muscling his way into the end zone on a 3-yard run to put Spain Park ahead 21-17 with 1:02 remaining.
But this time, Briarwood responded with a touchdown drive of its own and scored on the final play of the game to saddle Spain Park with a 23-21 loss.
Even so, Smallwood had done what he needed to do.
“The pressure situations are awesome,” Smallwood said. “You have to take your team down the field and give yourself a chance to win or you get stopped and you lose. I like being the guy to lead the team in those situations.
“The first two games were really exciting and fun. We came out on top the first week and the next week we played a good tight game and suffered a tough loss.”
The Jags visited cross-town rival Hoover last Friday in their Class 7A, Region 3 opener. But because of early deadlines related to Labor Day, the game was played after the Over The Mountain Journal had gone to press.
Spain Park visits three-time reigning Class 7A Thompson in another region game this week.
First-year Spain Park head coach Tim Vakakes believes Smallwood’s makeup is the reason he has responded so well in late-game situations.
“I think he’s a leader,” Vakakes said. “He’s not going to be loud, but the other kids have a lot of faith in him. He’s cool, calm and collected. The kids love him and follow behind him.”
Smallwood had to learn a new offense during the offseason with Vakakes’ arrival.
“They ran a lot of veer with a flex-bone, sort of like Georgia Tech,” Vakakes said. “We put him in the shotgun. I think it fits him well.
“He’s smart and knows where to go with the ball and he’s getting better at getting us out of bad plays into better plays. It’s an offense that allows him to show his leadership skills.”
He did that in the first two games with the game on the line.
“Both games we were in two-minute drill situations and both times our offense delivered, thanks to him,” Vakakes said.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Smallwood didn’t have any qualms about the offense Vakakes installed.
“It was a little bit of a change, but it was a good change,” Smallwood said. “We’ve opened up the offense more and that’s good because we’ve got some talented skill guys to get the ball to and it allows us to play at a faster pace.”
Smallwood makes good use of the talent around him. He completed 35 of 50 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns in the Jags’ first two games.
Double Threat
Smallwood is also a standout baseball player as a middle infielder. He was named to the 2022 All-OTM team in the spring after hitting .355 with eight doubles, 17 stolen bases and 21 runs batted in. He recently committed to Jacksonville State to play baseball.
“I love both sports,” Smallwood said, “but I think baseball fits me best for the future and I think Jacksonville State is the right fit for me.”
Smallwood was Spain Park’s back-up quarterback as a sophomore and was slated to be in that role again during the 2021 season. But when Bennett Meredith transferred to Hoover, Smallwood was thrust into the starting role.
It was tough sledding. The Jags also had a few of their best skilled players transfer to Thompson and had difficulty maintaining any offensive consistency as they suffered through a 2-8 season.
Smallwood also missed 2½ games midway through the season because of a concussion.
This season, Smallwood hopes the Jags can turn things around.
“Our first goal is to make the playoffs,” he said. “I think we have the guys to do it. The coaches give us good game plans and we just have to go out and execute.
“Even though we have a tough schedule, I think we can make the playoffs. I believe in this team.”
