SMYER — It’s been a while since the white and blue “W” flag flew in the backdrop of Bobcat Field.
Smyer football’s symbol of victory laid dormant for more than two years, leading some to wonder if its whereabouts were known.
There was no missing the proud banner flowing in the West Texas wind Monday.
The Bobcats got to renew the tradition for the first time since beating Crosbyton in the season opener Aug. 24, 2023. With a homecoming crowd on hand celebrating the 100th anniversary of the school, Smyer wiped away a 21-game losing streak with an emphatic 36-0 win over Floydada on Friday.
“It’s definitely everything that we are trying to do every single week,” senior Skyler Pond said. “It was definitely a relief to have our hard work paid off. For every week, we’re trying to do the same thing.”
Pond certainly played his part. Along with 12 tackles, he threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns. His 28-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter was an exclamation point.
Who would’ve guessed it was his 13th game as quarterback?
Smyer coach Scott Funke thrust the former receiver into the role before last season when graduation and transfers out left “not a whole lot of options.”
“We saw him throw a little bit,” Funke said, “and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s probably good enough, right?'”
Funke needed a mobile QB as the offensive line — made up mostly of converted receivers itself — learned. The coach felt he could develop Pond, and he knew just where to find him. Pond’s family lives next to the field house, giving him quick access to hone his skills.
Still, there was a lot to learn.
“He didn’t know how to take a snap,” Funke said. “He didn’t know how to take a drop. He didn’t know any reads. All our stuff was a one-look, throw to this guy, type of thing. When he got pressure in a real game, you could tell that he was seeing ghosts.
“He’s matured so much through that.”
Pond was surprised by the position change. With a young roster, the Bobcats struggled through a winless campaign. That only added motivation for the offseason.
“Since we’ve lost so many games, everyone had that feeling that we need to do better and that we know we can do better,” Pond said. “So, every single day, most of us would come out here and lift and work on passes and just work on our skillset.”
Pond said summer 7-on-7 was “the real start” of a confidence boost for the passing game. Ryann Gutierrez, who set school records with nine receptions and 181 yards against Floydada, agreed.
“Me and (Pond) have been connecting real, real well,” Gutierrez said. “It’s been working all year, so we’ve got to keep going. … 7-on-7 most definitely helped. That’s where I started getting routes (down), and then me and him brought it to the field.”
Along with increased throwing power and speed, Pond said his ability to read defenses is among his greatest improvements. He said he “rushed” through progressions because of his inexperience last year.
A unique attribute has helped.
Pond has a “photographic memory” that allows him to quickly learn and retain information. Funke had an inkling his QB possessed something special, which he confirmed with Pond’s dad just last week. With that, Pond is able to remember where his teammates should be, as well as how defenses are countering.
“He reads it off a wristband, remembers it from the picture that he also saw, and that’s how he lines people up,” Funke said.
It isn’t always so simple. Pond said his recall sometimes leads him to overthink. Still, he tries to use it to his advantage as best he can.
“The positives are definitely just playing smarter throughout the game,” Pond said. “Being able to read what a defender did the last time we threw a certain route, so we can change it up and make audibles and et cetera.”
Pond said morale and confidence have been “through the roof” since the win. Funke, too, noticed the upbeat attitude at the first practice ahead of Thursday’s matchup with Hale Center. The coach said he didn’t know the number the losing streak had reached, but said seeing players’ joy after the game was a “pretty cool experience.”
Funke credited his staff and “resilient” players for continuing to show up over the past couple of seasons. He said no one quit the team during the rough stretch. He said that’s a testament to their character and hopes it serves them well down the line.
“There’s something to be said for going through tough times like that, especially at this age, sticking with it,” Funke said. “That’s my hope anyway. I guess 20 years from now, hopefully that kind of stuff stuck with them. And they may not even know where it came from.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: How an unlikely QB with photographic memory helped Smyer football end 21-game losing streak
Reporting by Stephen Garcia, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
