By Robert Wilson
Madison Central junior quarterback Tripp Smith doesn’t have any college offers.
That could change soon.
College coaches should take notice after what Smith did Friday night.
Smith completed 18 of 29 passes for a career-high 405 yards and four touchdowns and ran for one score to lead Madison Central to a come-from-behind, 42-36 victory over Madison County rival Germantown in a key MHSAA Class 7A, Region 2 game at Madison Central.
For his outstanding performance, Smith has been named the Taste Restaurant/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Smith threw TD passes of 76 yards to senior Tylan Hutchins in the first quarter, 39 yards to senior Jayden Terry in the third quarter, 74 yards to senior Landon Hathorn and 47 yards to junior Adrion Harris in the fourth quarter along with a 5-yard TD run in the second quarter. The TD pass to Harris with 2 minutes, 43 seconds to play was the game-winner for the Jaguars. Smith completed 18 of 29 passes in the game.
Germantown led 29-10 with 4:40 to play before halftime and also led 36-27 with 6:08 to play.
“I thought Tripp had his best night of the year, especially from an execution standpoint and checking us into some explosive plays,” Madison Central coach Toby Collums said.
“Tripp had a great night and helped us come from behind with some accurate throws and our guys made some good catches to help him,” Madison Central offensive coordinator Dusty Finley said. “He has grown and matured as a quarterback since last season. Tripp sees the field better and the game has slowed down for him. He does better on the pre snap reads and does a good job once he gets the ball in his hands. And he still has another year to grow and mature.”
“Tripp is getting better with his eyes and starting to put them in the right spots in the right order,” Madison Central quarterbacks coach Wyatt Rogers said. “He threw for 400 yards against Germantown and 375 yards against Oxford (two weeks ago). Our offensive staff does a job kicking ideas around during the week and that’s beginning to pay off as well as Tripp’s development.”
Smith has passed for 1,661 yards and 17 TDs and helped Madison Central to a 4-4 record and a No. 10 ranking in MHSAA Class 7A and No. 15 in Mississippi this season. He threw for 1,819 yards and 18 TDs last season as a sophomore.
This is the second time in Smith’s career he has earned the Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Player of the Week. He received the award last season as a sophomore for another come-from-behind win.
Smith completed 21 of 28 passes – 75 percent – for 277 yards and three touchdowns and had 10 carries for 25 yards to lead Madison Central to a 32-24 victory over Warren Central at Madison Central.
Smith is the son of Courtney and Thomas Smith. Courtney played softball, basketball, track and was a cheerleader at Benton Academy. Thomas played football, basketball, track and tennis at East Rankin Academy. He won the state championship in the triple jump. Both went to Mississippi College, now Mississippi Christian University. Courtney was a cheerleader at MC. Smith has a younger brother, Gunner, 12. He plays football and baseball. Smith’s uncle, “D” Berry, was a defensive lineman at MC.
Madison Central, 4-4 overall and 2-1 in region play, plays host to Starkville, 6-2 overall and 2-1 in region play, in a region game Friday night at Madison Central.
Robert Wilson selects a football player of the week each week from teams from Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties. To contact Robert, text him at 601.506.2276.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
WEEK ONE: Junior Wilson, Central Hinds Academy
WEEK TWO: Langston Branson, Germantown
WEEK THREE: Rod Murray, Murray
WEEK FOUR: Luke Essary, Jackson Prep
WEEK FIVE: De’Montre Strange, Velma Jackson
WEEK SIX: Tyrone Robinson, Brandon
WEEK SEVEN: Aayden Spires, Callaway
WEEK EIGHT: Riley Bianchini, Madison St. Joseph
WEEK NINE: Josiah Cagins, Ridgeland
