Donnie Smith and Alex Foster both play defensive end for the St. Joseph Catholic School football team. They are both tall and skilled, and they both play their position a little differently, but equally as effective.
Foster, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, plays on the strong side of the defense. His main strength is in stopping the run, but he can chase down the quarterback when necessary.
Smith, a 6-foot-5 junior, plays on the weak side of the defense. Smith excels at tipping passes and bringing down the quarterback.
“They both have athleticism and height,” Irish coach John Baker said. “They have each knocked down more than ten balls. Alex has six sacks, and Donnie has seven.
“We move them around from play to play, and both Donnie and Alex have started every game. They set the edge and force them into the middle so (linebackers) Carson and Cliff Perry.”
The outstanding play of Smith and Foster, said Baker, is key reason the Irish have had such a successful season as they head into their first playoff game this Friday night against visiting rival Indianola Academy. The Irish (8-1) had a bye last week in the first round of the MAIS Class 4A state playoffs. Indianola (7-4) defeated Carroll Academy 27-15 in its first round game.
Friday night’s game between the Irish and the Colonels will be a rematch from a game earlier this year. On Sept. 10, St. Joseph beat Indianola Academy 32-14.
“This should be a good ball game on Friday. It’s almost impossible to beat a team twice,” Coach Baker said. “They are well coached. They know us just as well as we know them.”
Coach Baker adds that the Colonels are a much improved team than they were when St. Joe played them in December.
Said the Irish coach, “They have added a few new wrinkles offensively. They are a formation team. They come out in a hundred different formations. They are running a lot of the same stuff but in a different formation.”
The St. Joe defensive ends, Smith and Foster, both say they are ready for the postseason challenge. By working together, they hope to lead the Irish all the way to the title.
“Our relationship on the field just keeps getting better,” Smith said. “This is our first year of playing together, and every game our chemistry gets better. I make plays and he makes plays, and we are both willing to sacrifice for our team.”
