Elijah Smith was certain something was wrong on a very serious note. He had just had an MRI of his knee the day earlier under the guidance of Dr. Joseph Fazalare and was waiting the next day – the day before Bridgeport’s football game with Fairmont Senior – in his office when the Physician’s Assistant arrived.

 

“He told me what I thought I was going to hear,” said Smith. “I had torn my ACL in my knee.”

 

Just like that, with a few words, the game he had played since he was six years old and played for years with so many of his senior teammates, was over. Despite feeling certain he was going to hear bad news, Elijah Smith wasn’t ready for the actual words.

 

“It hit me hard. I just sat there. I know I had a blank face,” said Smith. “About an hour after, I broke down emotionally. I felt like I had worked so hard and there was no payoff; no crazy ending to a season. It was just over, and I broke down again when I talked to (BHS) Coach (John) Cole.”

 

In those few seconds, Bridgeport High School had lost its second leading tackler. It had lost a player that had emerged as a leader on defense and a much-needed ability to tackle in the open field. Most important, however, was a young man who had done everything he needed to contribute and make a difference didn’t get a chance to write his own ending.

 

Smith has been no slouch for the Bridgeport football team. He said he started for the first time as a junior in 2018 and has been in the lineup since. Smith, though, had focused working on football stringently so he could make a difference.

 

Weight room? He was there. Any type of offseason conditioning? Count Smith in. Full throttle practice player? Smith filled the role.

 

Cole saw that. He said he saw the type of kid that has made Bridgeport football a program that is often the envy of other programs statewide when it comes to sustaining success.

 

“He’s typical in the sense that he’s a hard-working kid in our program that we’ve been fortunate enough to have,” said Cole. “What makes this hard to see is Elijah is a young man that did it in the weight room, with effort in practice and by being hard-nosed. He’s got natural talent, but he’s also not like a handful of kids that are blessed with everything to get on the field.

 

“Elijah knew he had to earn a spot and that’s exactly what he did,” Cole continued. “He did that mid-way last year and it continued this year. He’s an example of where hard work and dedication will take you.”

 

The dedication was born out of a love for the game that started early. Years before he reached double digits in age, he and his father would watch football games on television. Dad would buy him jerseys and helmets and reinforce his love for the game.

 

“It was always on television and I wanted to play as soon as I started watching. I actually played flag football in South Harrison in the first grade and that’s when I knew I loved the game,” said Smith. “I played there until the second grade and then moved here.”

 

It was here that he met and got play with and against guys on his team at an early age in youth football through middle school and into high school. Teammates like Josh Wojochehowicz, Devin Vandergrift and Carson Winkie were there nearly every step of the way to this final stop for likely most of them on their way out of the game.

 

“I’ve developed a lot of friendships because of the game,” said Smith. “I just wanted this year to be different.”

 

Different to Smith meant simply making a bigger difference. It meant taking in every second of every game in his final season of his football career.

 

“I just wanted to play as many games as I could on Friday nights. Watching everyone play as a sophomore and early as a junior was tough so I dedicated myself to the weight room,” said Smith. “Every day, I would be joined by Brian Henderson and Carson (Winkie) and we would push each other with what the coaches wanted, and we would push each other on our own. It got to the point where they saw us as a trio. I never dreamed it would end like this.”

 

Smith wasn’t sure exactly when the injury initially happened. He thinks a partial tear may have taken place in the Morgantown game as he came up a bit gimpy. Smith managed to play the entire Liberty game as well before disaster struck at practice the week heading into the Fairmont Senior game.

 

“It just hurt a bit. The thought was that it was a bone bruise, but it wasn’t overwhelming,” he said. “The only thing I noticed was that it popped a few times; a weird pop. When it happened in the practice before the Fairmont Senior game, I knew something was seriously wrong.”

 

The “popping” noise, said Smith, was explained to him by Fazalare. He said it was his tibia hitting his femur. When it made the last pop, it was over.

 

“I was back running kickoff team in practice and I ran down the field and broke down to make the tackle,” he said. “When it popped this time, there was real pain. I walked off the field already knowing inside it was over.”

 

Cole said the coaches and staff knew it was serious.

 

“He went down. We knew he needed a doctor and an MRI. We had an immediate concern and it turned out exactly the way none of us hoped, especially Elijah,” said Cole.

 

Suddenly, the kid who took control to get a shot to play couldn’t play any longer over something he couldn’t control. And Cole said there’s no sugarcoating Smith’s absence is a blow to the team.

 

“He was doing fine for us, especially with so much in experience. He was versatile and it was an immediate shock not having him against Fairmont. I don’t know if it changes anything, but him not being there didn’t help,” said Cole. “I’m sure (defensive coordinator and assistant) Coach (Adam) King would have loved to have had him available.”

 

Smith, however, is available. It’s just that his role has changed. Now, he’s going to part of the team as a motivator as well as a bit of a teammate/coach role.

 

“Elijah couldn’t stay away and doesn’t want to stay away. We don’t want him to stay away,” said Cole. “I’ve told him you can’t play, but you can make sure others play harder knowing you’d give anything to be out there. Him being there is a reminder to make the most of it like Elijah did because it can all be gone on the playing side. Now, we get to see him in his new role and I’m sure he’ll excel there too.”

 

Smith is ready for it.

 

“I’m going to help and plan on being there to help and assist … The toughest part of this is going into the season I thought we had a shot at the state title and still think we do,” said Smith. “I think we’re among a handful of teams that can win it and would give anything to be out there to help. Now, I have to help in a different way and even though I’m looking forward to that it’s tough to know it’s over.”

 

As for Cole, when you’ve coached for as long as he has, you’ve seen this scenario play out too many times. There are lessons to be learned from this and believes Smith will do that.

 

“The reason these kids are out there are to learn lessons of life and adversity is one of those lessons that, unfortunately, is the lesson dealt to him,” said Cole. “I know he’s upset, but in the big scheme it’s a roadblock he needs to overcome to get to where he’ll be in life. It’s a test, and it’s one I’m sure he’ll pass.”

 

NOTE: The following is a comment Elijah Smith asked if he could add to this blog. It is as follows:

 

Thank you to all of the Bridgeport community for being such great supporters of football. Whether it’s Pee Wee, Middle School, or High School football, the people of Bridgeport's passion for the game makes playing it all the more enjoyable. Our high school football program as well as our coaches are some of the best in the state. This quality of atmosphere over the last four years here has been life changing in the best way possible. I have made lifelong friends and learned important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This year did not go the way I had planned but, besides my unfortunate injury, I would not change a single thing. All the hundreds of hours spent here doing laps around the field or burpees because I messed up have all been worth it. Thank you to everyone for all the support over the years and to my teammates who I’d do anything for. My football career may have come to an end, but the rest of my team battles on for the shot at a state championship. Please come and support the Indians every Friday night! Thank you and Roll Tribe!

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Top photo and third photo shows Elijah Smith making tackles against Morgantown and Liberty, respectively. In the second photo, he comes off the field after a defensive set and receives a hand from teammate Devin Vandergrift. In the fourth photo, Smith waits for a defensive signal with teammates Trey Pancake (40) and Sam Drake (35). In the bottom photo, Smith is shown in his new sideline role that went into place against Fairmont Senior. Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.