Brookhaven Academy senior runningback Adam Smith has learned tochange with the times. Smith and the Cougars had to adjust to newhead football coach Ray Ishee as well as new offensive coach PaulAnderson who brought with him a no-huddle offense. That is a lot tothrow at a team in a short amount of time but Smith hasadjusted.

In the season-opener last Friday, Smith rushed the football 17times for 126 yards and one touchdown in Brookhaven’s 42-6 routover the Copiah Academy Colonels at Cougar Field. He also kickedfour extra points.

For his accomplishments, Smith has been selected as TheDaily Leader’s Offensive Player of the Week for the first week ofthe 2001 football season.

“I like that,” Smith smiled, upon being named OffensivePlayer of the Week.

Smith, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs in a 230 pounds, runsa 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds.

“We are expecting Adam to be a real force on our offense,”said Ishee. “They (Central Hinds) are going to have to stop ourfullback game. They are going to have to load up on the line tostop him. Adam is a great kid. He is a leader in the school and heplays baseball too. He is just a good all around kid.”

Smith, who played tight end last year, said he favors thechange to a no-huddle offense. “I like it. “I like having to touchthe ball more. And we have got a good offensive coach(Anderson).

In last week’s victory over Copiah, Smith got a lot of helpfrom his Cougar offensive line. “They did a real good job Fridaynight.”

The Brookhaven starting offensive line includes right guardCal Hodges, right tackle Ben Sandifer, center Kelly Allred, righttackle Chase Magee, left guard Wade Calcote and left tackle JaredHall.

Smith said that he was proud of the way the Cougars playedlast week. One the team’s major goals is winning the district titleand proving the preseason experts wrong.

“We want to prove to everyone we are better than second fromlast in the district,” Smith stated. “We want to be statechamps.”

If he gets the opportunity, Smith said he would like to rushfor 1,000 yards or more during his senior year.

The Cougars are a close knit group according to Smith. “Ourteam is real close. We do a lot of stuff together.”

Smith also excels in baseball. Playing for Coach RonRushing, Smith finished last year with a .465 batting average. Hepitched, caught behind the plate and played 3rd base for the SouthState runners-up.