The Union-Recorder ‘Player of the Week’ award is back!

Each and every week [until the end of time] The Union-Recorder sports section will feature a special local athlete who performed above and beyond to push his or her team to victory.

This week’s local hero also captured The U-R ‘Clutch Performer of the Week’ honor in the process, and has been making a name for himself on the gridiron for several years now.

Friday night was certainly an experience they’ll never forget for the GMC Prep Bulldogs as they traveled to Athens to face a 6-2 Hebron Christian squad. GMC Prep wasn’t picked to win by many skeptics and opinionated minds, but something extraordinary happened in the fourth quarter with the Bulldogs trailing 17-6.

GMC’s offense and running back Donovan Smith would score early in the fourth on a 2-yard run, but GMC still trailed the Lions 17-14 as the final minutes began trickling away.

With the Lion’s offense driving late to add more insurance points, the Bulldogs were going to need something magical to happen to secure the win.

Enter Donovan Smith.

The senior would then send a lightning bolt through the Hebron Christian crowd as he studied their quarterback’s eye movement, and timed his release to a tee. The end result — Smith would take the ball and jet 40 yards for the go-ahead score, 21-17. GMC’s defense, which has been strong all season long, would do the rest to ice the game.

Smith and his teammates were toughing and sweating it out on GMC’s soccer field Tuesday afternoon in preparation for their upcoming Friday night matchup with North Paulding. Smith was fully mindful of his next opponent, but gave us a few minutes at the end of practice to discuss his ‘superman’ feat versus Hebron Christian.

“We were in a cover four [formation] and usually we drop straight back, but I had a feeling they were going to try something tricky — because they usually do that. And then I was on the backside trying to play man coverage, and I had my eyes still in the backfield. And I saw the running back come out late, so I broke on the ball,” said Smith. “I was thinking about hitting him [the running back], but I thought I could get there before the ball got there. The quarterback lobbed it up and I caught it and pick-sixed it — and went all the way to the end zone.”

The GMC Prep Bulldogs are currently on the upswing, and will be looking to use their momentum and newfound approach to propel them to a season ending victory at home Friday night.

“We’ve come together a lot these past couple of weeks — compared to how we were in the beginning of the season,” said Smith. “Our record would show that if we were playing like that at the beginning of the season. The offense is really coming together now.”

GMC Prep head coach Brad Owens was all focused on stopping North Paulding as he stepped off the practice field to share a few thoughts on his team’s clutch performer.

“Donovan has just been a warrior for us. He’s not a real big guy. He’s quick, but he’s not unbelievably fast or anything. He just plays with everything he’s got — he just plays all out,” said Owens. “He’s been a clutch performer for us for a couple of years now. We couldn’t get the offense cranked up earlier in the season to get him loose, but here, the last few weeks, he’s really come around and played his heart out. He’s certainly one we’re going to miss next year. He has nothing to hang his head about. He has certainly come on and done a fantastic job for us. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and I couldn’t be prouder of him. He’s a great kid.”

Region 7-A GMC Prep (3-6) has never had a problem filling Davenport Field seats, but Smith wanted to encourage local football fans to come out and witness an exciting night of pigskin action Friday. North Paulding (4-5) is in Region 7B-AAAA.