FOOTBALL: Smith one half of Moors' potent one-two-punch
SMITH PUTS MOORS FIRST
Alhambra High School running back Shawn Dushine Smith, who will team with Anthony Brown to form one of the most potent one-two punches in the Valley, rushed for 1,301 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. (Walt Mancini/Staff)
By Scott Galetti
Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/23/2007 12:30:22 AM PDT
ALHAMBRA - The word "team" takes on a special meaning to Alhambra High School running back Shawn "Dushine" Smith. His actions, especially those befitting teammate Anthony Brown, show Smith as a selfless player willing to put the team first at the expense of personal numbers.
Rather than try to beat out Brown, Smith is comfortable sharing the stage.
"We've known each other since freshman year, and at first there was a bit of competition, but we came to be good friends," Smith said.
This all-for-one, one-for-all philosophy has created one of the most potent one-two punches in the San Gabriel Valley. And they're ready to knock out opponents during their senior season while chasing after an Almont League and CIF-SS championship.
"I've been able to see Shawn
since he was 8 years old as a Gremlin, and Anthony came to us when he was a freshman and they've both been just phenomenal," Moors assistant coach Manny Ruedaflores said. "They're great students first and foremost. They've both got 3.0 grade-point averages, they're very strong in the weight room and they're excellent football players.
"You look at their bodies and their frame and you can see their definition and how strong they are in the weight room. They're not only two of our fastest kids, they're two of our strongest as well."
Add the physical aspect to the stats of Brown and Smith, and you have strength in numbers.
Brown has received more notoriety as being one of the area's top backs, but Smith made an argument for himself with his numbers last season.
Smith led the Moors in rushing with 1,301 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games a year ago as the Moors finished 7-4-1.
Along the way, Smith, who was named to the 2006 Star-News All-Area honorable mention team, enjoyed two games of 200-plus yards. He had 201 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in a 31-13 loss at South Pasadena. His best game occurred in a 47-27 victory over Montebello in which he carried the ball 25 times for 257 yards and four touchdowns.
While Smith is known best for what he does on offense, Ruedaflores knows his capabilities on defense.
"Shawn is a good lock-down corner. He can run with anyone," Ruedaflores said. "He's very strong and physical."
Brown collected 1,058 yards and 15 touchdowns in nine games. He also led the team in all-purpose yards with 1,483. Brown's accomplishments didn't go unnoticed as he was named to the All-CIF Southeast Division team.
"Anthony is dangerous from every point of the field, whether it's returning kicks, catching the ball out of the backfield or running the ball," Ruedaflores said. "On defense, he's just as dominant."
Brown, a second-team selection to the Star-News All-Area team, almost was unstoppable against Orange High School in the opening round of the playoffs. He rushed for 301 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries to lead the Moors to a 48-20 victory.
Both players were named to the Almont League first team in 2006. And as long as they can stay healthy, the Moors once again will field their own version of "thunder and lightning," reminiscent of former USC running backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White.
Whatever you call this tandem, there is one word that opponents will use - trouble.
"It's going to be hard to stop us," Smith said. "We're both good and everybody knows us."
Smith is a punishing running back in the same mold as White, while Brown brings lightning quickness similar to Bush.
"Their leadership and their ability to lead these guys is what's great about them," Ruedaflores said. "The best thing about it is they don't care who has the ball as long as we're winning. That shows what great kids they are."
Alhambra finished in a three-way tie for the league championship with Bell Gardens and eventual Southeast Division winner Schurr.
A 43-7 loss to Santa Fe in the second round not only unceremoniously knocked the Moors out of the playoffs, but also left bitter memories and unfinished business.
It's a feeling Smith and his teammates look to get rid of this season.
"We want to win an Almont League and CIF championship," Smith said.
Added Brown: "We have to make sure everybody stays on the same page, work harder and stay in the weight room."
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
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Amazing freakin blog here. I almost cried while reading it!
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Hy... I didn't had a nice read from a long time.Really glad i noticed it on google.I was talking with my colleagues three days ago around this matter and I have to say you make things very clear for me.Thanks and good luck
How did this piece go from Shawn Smith to total silliness? How about keeping things on topic guys? There's plenty of other threads to hate on Coach Gil or jock your Rio Hondo league teams. Give Almont some love. After all, Alhambra does have a player who was highly recruited at Michigan right now, and Schurr did win the division championship.
Thanks for the info, Scott, hopefully the boys can bring another Almont league title home for Coach in his farewell tour!
Alahmbra is scheduled to scrimmage against Northview at Moor Field on Friday at 3 p.m.
Scott or any other alhambra fans, would love to know if the Moors are scrimmaging anyone? Is that info I could get by calling the school? Any help someone can give me would be helpful!
New York, you're looking for linemen?
There was an earlier post on linemen. Hope that helps.
No Frank, that was not my opinion and I was surely not the person(s) calling him out. However, I was simply showing that if BigA gets bashed for his remarks, then the latest posters should be placed in the same grouping. Read it a little closer. Don't be so defensive. And trust me, I have played against as well as coached many great Asian football players. You don't need to convince me of their ability to play the greatest game ever invented.
Yeah, i know it's two in the damn morning.......but so what. I'm fired up, it's frickin football season!!! Which just means I woke up from a nightmare which includes me ransacking the old locker room searching for my helmet while the bus pulls away. Damn I'm such a has-been.....(hey, it sounds better than loser)
Just read the Stang blog, and your absolutely right NY........Stangs, get your a$$e$ over to OUR blog please....and by the way I LOVE the fact that there are FINALLY some more Stangs on here but.....um..... can you please find a different name to use....good looking out.....see you over in the other post....
The asian parents are afraid of their sons getting hurt. They are more than capable of playing football. Arcadia's band is 400 deep so that shows you how powerful arcadia can be. Most asians I talk to around the area regret not playing football.
Frank P,
Can't wait for the SF game. Although, I am not saying anything yet. i am not making any predictions. What I can tell you that our squad looks like they can compete.
new york, bigA is his own man, but i think your taking this bigot thing a little too far.
first, the general consensus is not that he is a bigot, i think its solely your opinion.
im not trying to attack or flame anyone, nor am i trying to help a helpless soul, bigA has proven to be able to carry intelligent conversations and can stand up for himself. however, i feel a little inclined to speak up since I was the one who started the topic of the influx of asian families at arcadia high.
i never wanted to make it sound like asian kids were taking the program down. although smaller in stature, asian kids can more than hold their own playing football, not only at arcadia but across the nation. if you look back at recent history, asian players have set their mark on arcadia football. if you remember hansen hshieh a few years back, he was as good of an athlete as any other nationality. also, if im not mistaken, the last two linemen of the year from arcadia were of asian decent. joe hua and paul an. these were linemen who went up against the likes of pasadena and muir.
one point that was made, i agree with. asian parents dont allow or discourage their children from going out for football. there is a direct correlation between the enrollment of asian students at the high school and the number of players on the team. im not saying anything about talent, solely numbers. to say that correlation has to do with the state of arcadia football is foolish. first, arcadia is only a few years removed from a 10 win season and there were plenty of problems with last years team, asian players were the least of their worries. i think the ten wins tied the most number of wins in the last ten years. clearly the makeup of the 97-98 team was very different from the 02-03 team but you cant argue with results.
however, what is difficult is to field a team with 30 players on varsity and about 20 on the jv level. i just got back from watching practice at arcadia today and saw first hand that the program is withering away. the varsity and jv teams actually practice together so they can have enough to have a scout team as well as the necessary subs for the various personnel packages. you get a few guys hurt here and there and you start having skill players work the line positions. arcadia is especially hit hard by private school defects and that combined with the low number participants to start out with, and you get the start of something that is not pretty.
im not trying to make excuses or fight anyone's battles, however, i've enjoyed bigA's comments and opinions and its always good to hear from another member of the apache nation and see the program through another pair of eyes.
good luck apaches.
scrimmage tomorrow at 8 am!
any linemen?
can you imagine Ric Ervins in the same back field with Anthony Wallace and big Terry McDaniels on line..Darick Holmes and Bobby Webter in the same back field..Big Jayson Hall and Sali in the backfield
with Cedic Thomas at QB and Stacey Townend and Demtrice Martin and Charles Carr at WR
would have won a couple of titles together..
New York......that's the best idea I've ever heard.
What if LA Unified had one football team...
So how is this current discussion any different than Big A talking about the Asian influx at Arcadia? Big A pretty much got labeled a biggot. Complaining about Black families moving out is the same calliber discussion as Big A complaining about Asians moving in.
I'll give you all credit for at least finally articulating what you have been implying for a very long time.
Also, demographics alone don't win football games. Great execution and play calling go a very long way. Pop in a tape of De La Salle dismantling one of Poly's most talented teams ever in 2002 and you'll see what I mean.
Annonymous:
That would be like combining Monrovia and Duarte players and letting them play in the big leagues along with LB Poly Oaks Christian and so forth. I think that that combination would hold its own in any league but for now we must live with the reality that Home prices are beginning to become a divider in most of the Black and Latino communities and familys that lived in Altadena that were paying high rents are looking for duplexes in TC, Rosemead, Alhambra...etc...It's safe to say that the core families that have resided in the Pasadena Altadena areas are mostly still hangin in there, a lot of them have taken refuge in the IE and have not looked back. I know that Half of the African American families from the Monrovia and Duarte areas started moving to the IE in the earlier 90's and the new African American families better have a hell of a savings account to move into Monrovia as it stands now. But Monrovia has it's African American community that is as old school as it gets....Familys that have been there for the past 80 or so years. But I would love to see a PHS,MUIR Super Team along With A MHS/Duarte Super Team....but it ain't going to happen.
One HS in Dena would be just like LB Poly or a Mater Dei. We'd be a premier program in the state year after year. Heck make it two schools eliminating Blair and Marshall and you would have something special. Then again does Blair and Marshall still have football programs.
I have been saying this for 20 years..this is what needs to be done,they should shut down all the high schools in Dena and make PCC one big high school in the hood..Then let's go play the big boys like LB poly and Edison i'll bet Dena will be on the map for real then..you won't have great players leaving the hood because everybody would shine and get that four year ride..look at SC they have what about 8 good RB's on the team..everybody wants to play for that ring...
I think it's great for every team to have its own blog, as long as Monrovia's is first! I hate having to scroll down so far on my blackberry.
i think the reason Alhambra is getting so much love because their star players all live in the Muir/PHS territory.
What does that say about the state of the PUSD. In the 80's and 90's players were never transfering out of the district like they are these days.
i think it's great to see what the kids in Alhambra are doing.It just shows once again that Pasadena Schools just let to much talent get out of the hood...You guess it both Shawn Smith and Anthony Brown parents are Pasadena alumi..You can't tell me PHS
couldn't use Smith or Brown
this year to go along with Crockom and Harrison it would have been nasty....
Uncle Tom?
Apache nation is here loud and clear.
ScottG, i think it's nice that you did some spots on Alhambra football. The running back situation should be interesting as the season goes on.
Anon 9:20, you graduated from Alhambra high and you don't want to hear about your squad? Don't be a uncle tom now. Be proud or get lost.
Scott and PSN,
i'd like to think that i speak for everyone when i say thank you for taking the west sgv prep scene to the next level. its good to see these video reports come in for the area teams. personally, i thought this blog would be the pinnacle.
its certainly going to be an exciting upcoming season.
lets get this board going again, last year was fun. im sure this season will loads better!
just one question, when do you plan on going out to arcadia? i just went out there this morning. im excited about our chances. i might go back tomorrow.
i guess there is a scrimmage in the morning at 8, ill be there, should be fun.
where is the apache nation at?
BigM...I hear you. Every team's accomplishments should be covered but how much do we want or need to know about Alhambra?
And congratulations on your support of the Mildcats.
I LIKE the coverage of the Almont league...I don't know much about the teams and their players and its good to see what they're doing down there. Anon 9:20...you're not the only alumnus (or, maybe alumna for you) that reads these blogs. And I bet the family and friends of the Moors are giddy with the exposure...
BTW - I root for the 'Cats...you can tell by my name...pick one, Anon...gutless...punk
ScottG....defend it as much as you like but I’m an Alhambra alum and I think your Alhambra/Almont League obsession is a borefest.
What you don't seem to understand is that very few readers of this blog care about Alhambra or the league they're in....it doesn't matter where the schools are located.
Congratulations on knowing how to spell Lombardi! I would suggest you invest in an A.P. style manual and clean up some of your own sloppy writing...remember, you get paid (sort of) for it.
I like that Galetti is focusing on alot of different schools instead of just Monrovia and Arcadia so give him a break.
Anon 5:25, A little in the category of Did you You?
In terms of Alhambra not being in the area, the school is actually closer to the Star-News office than, say Temple City or Monrovia, and La Canada the other way. Hard to believe but true.
And Anon 9:30 (perhaps the same person?) I believe you meant Vince Lombardi? :)
I'm sure Gil Ruedaflores is a great guy and coach but 104 wins in 17 years is hardly Vince Lombardy…..can we look forward to a feature on the Alhambra Cross Country Team soon?
It's not so much all this Alhambra. We have covered quite a few teams over the last couple of weeks getting ready for the special section.
We scheduled a video for Alhambra and worked in a feature on Smith as well. It's known as multi tasking. :)
And yes, Alhambra is in our coverage area. Not a Trib school.
What's going on here, can someone bring back Fred
Yeah, what's with all this Alhambra
Enough about Alhambra already! They are barely even in this area.
What it DuShine!
Nice piece on this kid, he deserves it. I'm not saying he's unheralded, but Anthony Brown gets a lot of the attention, deservedly so. Shawn deserves some respect, he's a workhorse.