Prior to this season, the Smith Vocational football team has beaten St. Joseph’s, Dean Tech twice and Mohawk during its first four years as a varsity program.
While those were important wins, there was something different when the Vikings smashed Drury, 40-16, last week.
“It was the biggest win in program history,” Smith Voke coach Ryan Burnett said. “There is no question about it.”
The win was symbolic for a team believed to have turned a corner.
For this group, led by quarterback Jacob Erali, the history of blowout losses is already a distant memory. This group believes in themselves.
“Last week I had that feeling,” Erali said. “When we shut them down and scored. We never had a game that was pounding it in and stopping them on every drive.”
Erali accounted for six touchdowns and over 300 yards of total offense for the Vikings. It was one of the best individual performances on opening night in western Massachusetts.
“It’s really coming together,” Erali said. “We have wonderful coaches. They make us believe that we can win.”
On Friday, Smith Voke will play in the inaugural unofficial Paradise City Bowl, making the trip to Elm Street to face Northampton for the first time ever.
Smith Vocational used to send players to Northampton through a cooperative agreement.
“They have a solid team,” Erali said. “A winning legacy for a long time. They always seem to have a good team.”
But every rivalry needs to start somewhere.
“Nothing about them worries me or scares me at all,” Erali said. “We will try our hardest to shut them down.”
The Blue Devils are coming off an emotional win in a rivalry game over Amherst Regional. First-year coach Eddie Jewel will stand on the sidelines at David Wright Field at the Frank E. Tudryn athletic complex for the first time.
“When I saw Northampton on the schedule I thought it might be a rough one,” Erali said. “But right now, with my team I would play anybody.”
Erali will face a Northampton defense that looked pretty stout against the Hurricanes. Amherst ran the ball on nearly every down, allowing the Blue Devils to load up against the rush.
Erali is a threat to run and pass effectively, so Northampton will need to be more disciplined.
On the other side, Smith Voke’s defense will face Jewel’s spread that is relentless throwing and attacking down the field.
Quarterback Tom Jacques will play his second game as a starting quarterback, and his first at home.
