BOYS

Keith Smith

SCHOOL: Newbury Park

SPORT: Football

YEAR: Senior

SEASON AT A GLANCE: Smith’s season ends the way it began: with victory and The Times’ athlete-of-the-week award. Smith, who was the first athlete of the week this school year, led the Panthers (14-0) to the greatest season in Ventura County history and the Southern Section Division III championship. Smith is first all-time in the state and second all-time in the nation with 9,971 yards passing. He is tied for second in the state with 87 touchdown passes. Smith completed 270 of 409 (66%) for 4,244 yards and 40 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. He also surpassed the state single-season passing record of 4,223 yards established by John Walsh (Carson High) in 1990. Smith also rushed for 774 yards (7.4 average) and 11 touchdowns.

WEEK AT A GLANCE: Smith led the Panthers to a 22-14 victory over Hawthorne in the Division III final Saturday night. The All-American rallied Newbury Park from a 14-0 halftime deficit. He completed 16 of 34 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 15 times for 157 yards with one touchdown--a spectacular 98-yard run that clinched the victory with 8 minutes 35 seconds to play.