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SMITHVILLE — The Smithville High School varsity football team ended the 2023 regular season Nov. 3 as the Tigers handled business with a 26-7 victory at home over the Hornets of Caldwell High School.
The Tigers got their scoring started midway through the first quarter when Smithville sophomore quarterback Trip Davis connected on a long 65-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Ramonz Adams for a 7-0 lead, which would hold at the end of the first quarter.
Smithville would add a couple of insurance touchdowns late in the second quarter to build on its lead. Following a oneyard touchdown run by Smithville senior running back Noah Baxter, the Tigers got the ball back for one more drive prior to halftime and Adams scampered for a 25-yard rushing touchdown as the Tigers took a 20-0 lead into the locker room.
After Caldwell got to within a 20-7 deficit in the third quarter, Smithville put this game on ice midway through the fourth quarter as Adams threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Dylan Hippler to give the Tigers a commanding 26-7 lead, a score that would hold the rest of the way.
On the night, the Tigers’ defense was outstanding as Adams had two interceptions with senior Chris De La Pena also recording an interception. Four Smithville players had double-digit tackles on the night led by senior Achilles Brian with 12, Baxter with 11, Hippler with 11 and senior Wyatt Gigout with 10 stops of his own.
Adams simply did it all during his junior season on both sides of the ball for the Tigers as he had 1,428 yards passing, 22 receptions for 411 yards, 14 total touchdowns, six interceptions and four forced fumbles to lead Smithville.
Despite only a 3-7 overall record, the Tigers had two district victories on the road at Giddings High School Oct. 13 and this past Friday hosting Caldwell. However, Smithville was eliminated from the postseason race via tiebreaker as Cuero High School, Gonzales High School, La Grange High School and Giddings all made the playoffs out of 4A-2 District 12 this season.
