Elijah Smith’s swagger an asset
The Sewanhaka High School Indians can count on their senior captain Elijah Smith to bring the toughness to the team.
Smith is a slot receiver and cornerback for the Indians.
“He is one of our two way players and an all around athlete,” said Indians head coach George Kasimatis.
Smith has been playing football since he was seven years old. He came into Sewanhaka primarily as a defensive player. He played cornerback his first two years on junior varsity, but in 11th-grade, when he moved up to varsity, Smith made the transition to slot receiver.
“I like playing cornerback cause I like the contact,” said Smith.
He looks to shut down opposing receivesr both physically and mentally. “I like to get in the guys face, play physical so he can be intimidated when he goes against me,” Smith said with a stern look.
He missed the first three games as a freshman and made his debut off the bench in the teams fourth game. “I came in caught an interception against Southside and have been a starter ever since,” Smith said.
As a receiver, Smith’s intentions are much simpler. “Catch the ball and run up the field,” he said.
He may be intimidating on the field, but he is not like that off the field with his teammates.
“Smith is more of a prankster he likes to keep things lose with the team,” said Kasimatis.
He looks to leave it on all the field this season and has high hopes for his team.
“Take it home and play full tail every time,” said Smith. If the team does this, the sky is the limit, he believes.
“After the season my goal is to obviously go into the weight room, get bigger, run track and make myself a success,” said Smith. He plans on playing football after his time at Sewanhaka.
Kasimatis speaks highly of all his captains and said he doesn’t know what he is going to do without them next year. But he believes all of them, especially Smith, are good enough athletes to play football at a higher level.
Smith will never be one his teammates cannot count on to give it his all.
“I look to do it all,” Smith said. “Whatever I can do to help my team win.”
