Without Smothers, Marion County will rely on senior leadership

When Marion County suits up to host Commerce in the second round of the Class A-public playoffs tonight, it will be doing it without its best player.

Star senior Lorenzo Smothers has been ruled out for the game, and almost assuredly the remainder of the postseason, because of a fractured rib that poses a significant risk of further damage. Smothers, of course, has perhaps the biggest impact of any player on any team in the state in Class A-public, posing a major threat to score from anywhere on the field on offense, defense and special teams. Losing him makes Marion County's state title aspirations that much harder to achieve.

But coach Mike Swaney made it clear earlier this week that the show must go on. Expectations haven't changed, and a team that he said is more complete this year than the one that nearly won its second straight championship a year ago is prepared to withstand the loss of its best player.

"We're not a one-man show," Swaney said. "I'm not going to sit here and say that it doesn't hurt to lose him. It does because of how much attention he garners, but the expectations aren't changing for us."

Swaney pointed to guys like Mykelle Kelley, Maurice Carter and Quentez Battle as key players on offense who would be called upon to step up in Smothers' absence. Carter starts at defensive back and, as a result, hasn't played as much on offense, but Swaney said he's very confident in his ability as a runner.

"He doesn't get many touches because we rely on him so much on defense, but he has a lot of ability as a runner, too," Swaney said.

Really, though, he said it would be the 17 seniors on the team leading the way against a tough opponent.

"We have 17 seniors, so we expect them all to step up," he said. "Our kids have played a lot of football, and they're going to come ready to play."

While the expectations won't change, the approach will to a degree. In the past, Smothers has made the Eagles a big-play threat from anywhere on the football field. Now, Swaney suggested that, perhaps, the team would take a slower, more deliberate approach on offense.

"We're probably going to have to grind the ball more than we usually do," Swaney said.

"We're not going to be a big-play team. We'll have to possess the ball and keep it away from them and grind it out more than we have in the past."

Commerce is no stranger to playing meaningful football in November and December. Last year, it lost in the state semifinals to Irwin County. It has made the playoffs in 19 consecutive seasons.

Marion County has been one of the state's best the past few seasons, but Swaney said he sees no advantage for his group because of how much playoff football it has played in recent years.

"It helps, but they've been in a lot of playoff games, too," he said. "I don't think anybody is going to have any jitters."

With a win, Marion County will advance to its third consecutive state semifinal. Last year, the Eagles lost a close game to Hawkinsville. Two years ago, they won the state championship.

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 8:32 PM with the headline "Without Smothers, Marion County will rely on senior leadership ."