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Two quarterbacks, but no quarrel for Pirates

By IZZY GOULD
Published August 9, 2006

DADE CITY - Justin Smothers didn't run away.

If he simply left to escape a quarterback battle, he would not have transferred to Pasco.

The Pirates' promising 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior quarterback studied 2005 Class 2A Player of the Year Jarrod Flemming for two seasons at Bushnell South Sumter.

Flemming left with his diploma, opening a spring duel between Smothers and Travis Hutcheson.

Smothers didn't anticipate the blind-side hit from coach Inman Sherman.

Sherman was grounding South Sumter's offense.

"Me and Coach Sherman got into it a little bit about the running game during the summer," Smothers said. "He said we'd pretty much be an all-run team this year. That was pretty much it. There were some more things that were said that made me change my mind about playing for him.

"I just decided I wasn't going to play for him."

Smothers was so upset he quit the team and mentally prepared for a year of lifting weights and running.

That changed one afternoon when his mother, a dental assistant in Zephyrhills, got into a friendly chat with a patient about Pasco football. She called Pirates coach Dale Caparaso, arranged a meeting and Smothers felt an instant connection.

"I had no intentions on coming (to Pasco)," Smothers said. "I wasn't going to play."

Early into summer conditioning Smothers crossed paths with Pasco's No. 1 quarterback - sophomore Josh Johnson.

They instantly recognized each other from a camp two years ago at the University of Florida.

That helped ease any tension.

Instead of building an impenetrable wall, Johnson opened his heart and welcomed Smothers despite the fact they were gunning for the starting quarterback job.

"I'm going to help him regardless, even if we're fighting for a spot," Johnson said. "That's helping me in case I get hurt. He's there. Or if I play running back he'll know the plays."

Johnson's versatility could force Caparaso to plug him somewhere else to strengthen the offense. Johnson can play most skill positions with flare.

Smothers prides himself on being a pocket passer with the ability to get outside and move in a pinch. If Caparaso uses Johnson at quarterback Smothers could play tight end.

"It doesn't matter to me," Johnson said. "I like playing quarterback. But if Coach wants the best for me to play running back then I'll do that just as long as we win."

Smothers proved he was a viable candidate at a USF seven-on-seven camp last month. Johnson and Smothers rotated and shared similar success, leading the Pirates to the final eight among 32 teams.

"There was no master plan," Caparaso said. "If one quarterback had the hot hand, we were going to let him go. As it turned out, Josh really enjoyed playing receiver. No one could cover him."

Regardless, Johnson was still the starting quarterback as of Tuesday and has been since the start of preseason practice.

"I don't think either one of them is going to starve in football in 2006," Caparaso said. "...Quite frankly the two of them got along real well.

Contact Izzy Gould at igould@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 9, 2006, 07:11:47]