How Mr. Smith stacks up

November 18th, 2008 11:34 am · 6 comments

KEITH SCHWEIGERT, Online Sports Editor

While I was blogging live from Lancaster Catholic’s 45-7 rout of Wyomissing last Friday in the District 3 Class AA semifinals, some Crusader fans in the audience wondered where quarterback Kyle Smith’s career numbers stack up against the Lancaster-Lebanon League’s elite.

I didn’t have that information at my fingertips then, but after a few hours of obsessively poring over old newspaper records and stats, I think I can provide a rough estimate.

Here’s the short version: He stacks up very well.

In his two years at the Crusader helm, Smith has passed for 5,047 yards and 63 touchdowns in his stellar career. (At least, those are the numbers I came up with; if I’m wrong, I’m sure Catholic stat guru Sam Paone will tell me all about it in the pressbox Friday night).

Where does that put Smith in the grand scheme of things? Currently, he’s No. 11 on the league’s all-time passing list, just a hair behind 1994 Conestoga Valley grad and former William & Mary standout Mike Cook (5,060). If Smith has an average game in Friday night’s District 3 title clash with Middletown, he should eclipse Cook, former Annville-Cleona star Clay Failor (5,160) and ex-Etown standout Andy Breault (5,195) on the list, jumping up to No. 8.

The league’s all-time leading passer is Manheim Township grad and current University of Pittsburgh backup Pat Bostick, who racked up 7,225 yards and 94 touchdowns in his four years with the Blue Streaks (the 94 TDs are also a league mark). Bostick’s numbers rank him first all-time among District 3 passers. Chad Henne, the former Wilson and University of Michigan star and current Miami Dolphins backup, is second on the league’s all-time list with 7,071 yards and 74 scores.

The rest of the top 10 L-L League career passers are: 2001 Elco grad Zac Kulp (5,922 yards, 56 TDs), former Manheim Central superstar Jeff Smoker (5,901 yards, 53 TDs) and former CV standouts Jordan Steffy (5,587 yards, 51 TDs), Tyler Demmy (5,486 yards, 39 TDs) and Matt Zigment (5,476 yards, 46 TDs).

If Smith and the Crusaders extend their season for a few more games and have another strong year in 2009, it’s a safe bet that he’ll catch Bostick’s two career records. The state record of 8,162 yards — held by current Penn State backup and former Downingtown star Pat Devlin — appears to be out of reach, unless Smith has a season for the ages next year.

It should be noted that Smith could not care less about his individual numbers, which he reminds us media folks every chance he gets. But now his growing legion of fans know the numbers he’s gunning for.

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  6 comments  Tags: Kyle Smith · L-L League · Lancaster Catholic · Football

There are currently 6 comments on this blog post
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Lavabe
11/18/08
8:39 PM
QUOTE (Lancaster Online @ Nov 18 2008, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
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Keith, what is the single season TD record?
jjvera
11/19/08
6:01 AM		is there a web site or record book available for ll records? do they keep punting statistics?the kid from crest (gristick)has to close to the all time leading punter in ll history.thank you keith!keep up the good work.
kschweigert
11/19/08
8:21 AM
QUOTE (jjvera @ Nov 19 2008, 08:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
is there a web site or record book available for ll records? do they keep punting statistics?the kid from crest (gristick)has to close to the all time leading punter in ll history.thank you keith!keep up the good work.



To the best of my knowledge, there isn't -- at least not one that tracks individual stats. I have a few numbers written downand saved in various places, but most of the time I have to go back through our old notebooks filled with boxscores -- whichonly go back to about 1986 or so, and add everything up. If I need something from before '86, I have to go into our microfilm.Pat Bostick threw 34 touchdown passes in 2005, when he was a junior. Township played in 12 games that year. He had 31 in the 10-game regular season. That's the most we could find in our records up to this point. I can't be 100 percent certain without really digging back into the '70's, but I think it's a safe bet that Smith's 36 TDs this year are league's single-season record.
lebsoccer02
11/23/08
9:17 PM		just curious and this may be nitpicking or whatever but wouldn't Capello from Lebanon be on the top 10 seeing as he's totaled 5985 passing yards throughout his career at Lebanon? Not taking anything away from Smith, he's a heck of a QB. Also where is Clentimack on LL league career receptions and yards? What about PA state single season marks with his reception amount this year? He had over 80. Thanks in advance and I enjoy reading your columns.
thecageman
2/6/09
10:33 PM
QUOTE (kschweigert @ Nov 19 2008, 10:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
To the best of my knowledge, there isn't -- at least not one that tracks individual stats. I have a few numbers written downand saved in various places, but most of the time I have to go back through our old notebooks filled with boxscores -- whichonly go back to about 1986 or so, and add everything up. If I need something from before '86, I have to go into our microfilm.Pat Bostick threw 34 touchdown passes in 2005, when he was a junior. Township played in 12 games that year. He had 31 in the 10-game regular season. That's the most we could find in our records up to this point. I can't be 100 percent certain without really digging back into the '70's, but I think it's a safe bet that Smith's 36 TDs this year are league's single-season record.



Bostick had 34 td's in 2005 as a Jr. The team went 9-2 that season. Bostick's 7225 yds and 94 TD's were accumulated in 32 games! 3 TD/game and 226 yds/game...not too shabby. Smith has already played in 27 games. It's a locck that he will have at least 5 more games than Bostick to add to his stats. So far Smith with his 5047 yds and 63 td is averaging 187 yds/game and 2.3 tds/game. Yes, he will probably pass Bosticks records but with at least 15% more games to play in
airpatrol20
4/5/09
5:27 PM		Kyle Smith is the best thing that ever happened to the LL League. I went to everyone of his games. He is smart, 100% built for quarterback, and has a sense of when and how to throw the ball at the perfect moment. He is fun to watch, even when you're an opponent losing by 40 points. On top of everything, Kyle is the humblest star around. He doesn't walk around talking how great he is or how many records he'll beat. He's there to have fun and help the team however he can. That is the most important quality of any leader. The section doesn't matter, he proved himself by dominating teams in the playoffs. He can out preform anyone from section 1. Everyone will see, Kyle will go far in football. He will out prefrom all before him. Lancaster Catholic is my early favorite in the AA State Playoffs. I think Kyle will lead them to the crown.
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