Sacred Heart’s passing game flourished last week, as the Crusaders moved to 2-0 on the season with a 42-36 win at Richton. Junior quarterback Zach Weatherell and senior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith were at the helm of that success and as a result, the two have been named our Sports601 Hattiesburg Co-Players of the Week.
Weatherell passed for 317 yards and five touchdowns, while Smith caught four passes, all of which went for touchdowns. Smith added 173 receiving yards, which equates to an astounding 43 yards per catch.
“We passed the ball really well,” Weatherell said. “Our offensive line, we fixed a couple of things at halftime. And Jerry [Jeremiah] and a bunch of other receivers stepped up. Joseph [Bishop] had a hundred yards and Paul [Rowell] had a touchdown.”
It was Smith, however, that stood out the most. Kind of surprising considering this is his first season playing football since his third grade year.
“Everybody was telling me I should play for my senior year and that I would be really good,” Smith said. “So I was like, ‘Alright, I’ll give it a try’. I had to convince my mom for like a whole month to let me play.”
Smith surely made his mom proud with his performance Friday night. You can add his quarterback to that list, too.
“I didn’t think Jerry would have four touchdowns. Just being honest with you,” Weatherell said. “I just kept throwing it up, and he kept going up and getting it. He made me look good.”
The admiration is mutual.
“Zach played really good, I’m not gonna lie,” Smith concluded. “I knew he had it in him.”
Smith, Weatherell and the Crusaders will look to make it 3-0 this week with a win at home against Sumrall (1-1).
