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Thunder & Lightning: Skillern, Smith provide Second Baptist School punch out of backfield
Oct 24, 2020
HOUSTON - Terry Pirtle and the Second Baptist School have secured the services of Smith & Skillern.
Yes, that may sound like some high-level law firm but it's not. Rather, it's junior running backs Eli Smith and Everett Skillern, who have paced the Eagles' offense the past two weeks.
<p>In fact, the duo has combined to score 12 touchdowns in the past two games for Second Baptist School, each scoring three times apiece in each outing, including in a 49-0 homecoming victory over Lutheran South Academy on Friday night. </p><p>"Whenever he came back [from injury] it's been an automatic connection between the two of us," Smith said. "It's just a dynamic duo." </p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">TOUCHDOWN EAGLES!! <a href="https://twitter.com/SBS_Athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBS_Athletics</a> QB <a href="https://twitter.com/finn1nicholson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@finn1nicholson</a> rolls out and dumps it off to <a href="https://twitter.com/eli_smiith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eli_smiith</a> who does the rest. Busts a few tackles and gone for 51 yards. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/txhsfb?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#txhsfb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vypecampus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vypecampus</a> <br><br>2nd - 1:26<a href="https://twitter.com/SBS_Athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBS_Athletics</a> - 35<a href="https://twitter.com/SouthFootball20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SouthFootball20</a> - 0<a href="https://twitter.com/mawalker_SBAD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mawalker_SBAD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachPirtle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachPirtle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/skillerneverett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@skillerneverett</a> <a href="https://t.co/66x27c7GOO">pic.twitter.com/66x27c7GOO</a><br>— vypehouston (@vypehouston) <a href="https://twitter.com/vypehouston/status/1319807684439400449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p>Skillern was out the first two games of the season but then returned to the two-deep a week ago and has been nearly unstoppable since returning. <br></p><p>"It feels great to be back," Skillern said. "It hurt me being gone, just seeing my team out there and not being able to be out there with them ... It felt good to be back." </p><p>Last year, Skillern and Smith were just sophomores at Second Baptist School. With Josh Johnson at quarterback, who eventually went to Trinity University, the offense was slightly more pass-heavy. Finn Nicholson has taken over the quarterback position this year and has the options to hand it off to Skillern or Smith but also hit them with the pass as well, along with Grayson Kim. </p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p>Now, as juniors, Skillern said they are pushing each other to be successful out of the backfield. </p><p>"We have more weight on our shoulders and we take that and run with it," Skillern said. "We love it. We push each other every day in practice and we just keep pushing each other." </p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">TOUCHDOWN EAGLES!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/SBS_Athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBS_Athletics</a> RB <a href="https://twitter.com/skillerneverett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@skillerneverett</a> with the hurdle over a diving defender and into the end zone from 3 yards. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/txhsfb?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#txhsfb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VYPECampus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VYPECampus</a> <br><br>2nd - 9:43 <a href="https://twitter.com/SBS_Athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBS_Athletics</a> - 28<a href="https://twitter.com/SouthFootball20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SouthFootball20</a> - 0<a href="https://twitter.com/mawalker_SBAD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mawalker_SBAD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LSCSN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LSCSN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/eli_smiith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eli_smiith</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/finn1nicholson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@finn1nicholson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GraysonKim1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GraysonKim1</a> <a href="https://t.co/H1qc50NI6I">pic.twitter.com/H1qc50NI6I</a><br>— vypehouston (@vypehouston) <a href="https://twitter.com/vypehouston/status/1319801823893520384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p>But as any running back will tell you, the rushing yards, touchdowns, receptions with a full-blown escort down the field in front of them doesn't come without the trench warriors up front doing their job. <br></p><p>"I owe a lot of credit to my line," Smith said. "They are out here working hard in the trenches. It's allowing us to get a lot of yards every game." </p><p>What Second Baptist School head coach Terry Pirtle enjoys the most about Smith and Skillern is the fact that he gets to pencil them onto the depth chart again in 2021.</p><p>"They are both good backs," Pirtle said. "They've gotten better since last year. They had some success as sophomores last year but they have gotten bigger and stronger. So, they are hard-nosed, tough kids and they love to run the football. Our offensive line has done a tremendous job."</p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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5-STARS: The Private School Playmakers powered by Texas Citizens Bank
Oct 22, 2020
There are so many great athletes in the private school realm in Houston.
VYPE highlights five athletes or teams from across the private school ranks in this edition of Private School Playmakers Powered by Texas Citizens Bank.
Ben Shearer - The Woodlands Christian Academy Cross Country
With his win last night at a race in Arizona, Ben is now #3 in the United States! Thanks to @TAPPSbiz for allowing him to compete there. @twcasports @ConroeSports @vypehouston @TXMileSplit @TexasXCCoaches @TappsXCountry pic.twitter.com/ud7REdzL8K
— @TWCA XC/ T&F (@twcaxc) October 3, 2020
We all knew Ben Shearer was really good. We knew coming into this year, Shearer is the hands down favorite to win another TAPPS State Championship. But now, he is amongst the best in the country. At the Desert Twilight Festival at the beginning of October, Shearer posted a 5K time of 14:39.60. That still stands as the third-fastest time in the nation. He is only three seconds behind Ethan Strand (Vestavia Hills HS, Alabama) and nine seconds back of the nation's best in Parker Wolfe (Cherry Creek High School, Colorado). Ben Shearer could very well by season's end be the No. 1 boys cross country runner in the United States.
Toyosi Onabanjo (@ToyosiOnabanjo) - St. Agnes Volleyball
Congrats Toyosi on your commitment to be a student-athlete at IOWA! We are so proud of you and appreciate your hard work and perseverance toward becoming an Academy Woman. pic.twitter.com/PMNX5YTmA7
— SAA Volleyball (@saa_vb) October 16, 2020
Recently St. Agnes Academy senior Toyosi Onabanjo verbally committed to Iowa to continue her volleyball career. Entering this season, Onabanjo was coming off a year where she had earned first-team, all-state and first-team, all-district honors. Recently, Onabanjo was named the MVP of the Houston Open Tournament that St. Agnes played in.
Eli Smith - Second Baptist School Football
Week 3 SZN/ Week 1 of District👽
— Eli Smith (@eli_smiith) October 20, 2020
13 Carries 160 YDs
3TDs
12.3 YPC
1 PBU@CecilShortsIII @MoneyTeam_Milto @CoachPirtle @adam_taylor28 @AlanRicard3 pic.twitter.com/XtnrXDVPOq
Eli Smith is a rushing machine. Against The Woodlands Christian Academy last week, Smith went off for 160 yards and three scores on just 13 carries. That is an impressive 12.3 yards per carry. Smith is a catalyst to the Second Baptist School offense as they look to continue their winning ways this week against Lutheran South Academy.
Maddox Kopp - St. Thomas Football
| @vypehouston Player of the Week Fan Poll | @maddox_kopp (verbal #GoCougs) school-record 8 TD passes & 533 yards + 62-yard romp | @STHCatholic 65-14 > SA Christian | 3-2, 3-0 | 11 straight district wins since 2018 | #txhsfb
— St. Thomas High School (@STHCatholic) October 21, 2020
VOTE ⤵️https://t.co/tOXlBIjNG2 pic.twitter.com/493sz3xuEY
Maddox Kopp is putting up just silly numbers this year. They are video game-like numbers. In a 65-14 win over San Antonio Christian, Kopp passed for 533 yards and a school-record eight touchdowns. St. Thomas improved to 3-0 in district play and has rattled off 11-straight district victories dating back to 2018. Overall this season, Kopp has passed for 1,595 yards and 18 touchdowns in five games. He is on pace to easily surpass 3,000 yards passing in just the regular season.
Brady Dever - Fort Bend Christian Academy Football
56-0 Win Last Night! 7-9, 185 Yards, 4 Touchdowns in 2 Quarters! @jordanblack78 @fb_coachcarp @SeanUnfiltered @QBHitList @MikeWestHTX @TXPrivateFBGuy @ipeak_6 @simplyCoachO @cantmisssports1 @samspiegs @Perroni247 @vypehouston @jokoch09 @VYPE_Private @TappsFootball pic.twitter.com/7WkJZZdMCG
— Brady Dever (@BradyDever1) October 17, 2020
In a 56-0 victory for Fort Bend Christian Academy it didn't take quarterback Brady Dever long to stack up some big numbers. In just the first half, Dever went 7 of 9 for 185 yards and four touchdowns. The sophomore has passed for 659 yards and seven touchdowns helping lead Fort Bend Christian Academy to a 3-1 mark.
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