There are a lot of things Quatavious Smith loves.
He loves to catch the ball. He loves to play defense. He loves to hit people. He loves to be in the open field. He loves to score touchdowns.
It’s a lot of love to go around on one football field, but the senior still makes it happen.
Smith continued his all-around spectacular season Friday in McComb’s win over Pearl with a go-ahead touchdown and two interceptions — one that he returned 95 yards for a touchdown and the other that won the game on the final possession.
“When I’m going to him, I’m knowing he’s going to make a play,” McComb coach Malcolm Jones said. “I don’t have to guess, wonder or anything of that nature. I know Quatavious Smith is going to make a play — period.”
With the game in the balance, Smith took a wide receiver screen 10 yards and dove into the end zone to give McComb a 36-29 lead in the second overtime against Pearl. Then Smith cut in front of a pass on Pearl’s next possession for the game-winning interception.
It seemed to be just another day on the job for Smith.
Earlier in the game, Smith made a highlight reel one-handed interception at his own 5-yard line and slithered his way 95 yards for the touchdown.
Smith doesn’t have straight-line track speed but his moves in the open field have made players look silly at times this season.
His elusiveness in open space make Smith a threat to score no matter where he lines up, even on defense.
Smith has returned a punt for a touchdown this season (two have been called back by penalties) and leads the team with 51 catches for 840 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“That’s the mentality I’ve had since Pee Wee. I like scoring,” Smith said. “I like putting points on the board so that’s what I try to do every time I touch the ball … I don’t think nobody can tackle me in the open field.”
Since the departure of Deonte Evans, who is now a freshman at Mississippi State, Smith has been the de facto playmaker for McComb.
As a junior in 2011, Smith bounced around from receiver, catching only 18 balls, and eventually took the starting quarterback job away from then-sophomore Alex Woodall. Smith was hardly a natural quarterback but his running ability made for a nice combo with Evans.
Woodall regained the starting role this season and his rapport with Smith has led to huge offensive productions.
“Without a quarterback, a receiver is nothing,” Smith said. “Alex has grown up a whole lot.”
Woodall has looked for Smith early and often this season, and it’s turned McComb from a traditional run-oriented team into a formidable passing attack.
Smith and fellow senior Kevonte Dillon have helped turn McComb into a vertical passing team, but the bread and butter lies in short passes and screen plays to Smith. On any given play he can turn a 5-yard pass into a 50-yard gain.
When Smith isn’t catching it, Jones regularly uses Smith on running plays. Smith also isn’t afraid to bring the lumber on the edge as he’s made several huge blocks, laying out a member of the opposing team on various occasions.
“With Alex stepping up and maturing like he did, it definitely benefited the team and that allowed Quatavious to move out wide and make plays out in the open space like we needed him to do,” Jones said.
Jones said Smith’s strides on offense have been most surprising, while his defense has remained steady.
Smith now has four interceptions from his safety spot, a position that suits him perfectly. Smith is able to roam the field, make reads and fly to the ball.
“Most quarterbacks, they are going to go to their key players,” Smith said. “So once you key in on those key players and see them getting the ball a lot, then you just key in on them and when it’s in the air, you attack it.”
