61238133
Though he donned a prominent number and backed up its connotations with many end-zone appearances, Sharif Smith eschews arrogance. Success can test modesty, but four years of stellar runs and throws for Horace Furness High School, 1900 S. Third St., have not altered the humility of the former resident of 16th and Ellsworth streets. His accomplishments, though, have endeared him to his teammates and coaches, who retired his No. 1 jersey following Nov. 23’s inaugural South Philly Bowl at the South Philadelphia super site, 10th and Bigler streets.
Smith is the first Furness student-athlete to receive such an honor, and his career tallies place him among the city’s elite runners.
His 4,457 career rushing yards rank fifth-best in city history. He twice earned All-City designation and appeared four times on the All-Public teams. In a run-heavy offense, he still passed for 928 yards and 10 scores.
“I’m a leader but a quiet one,” the senior said last week at The Academy at Palumbo, 1100 Catharine St.
A sponsorship agreement lets schools lacking certain sports partner with more fortunate institutions, so Smith lent his talents to the Pennsport-based Furness Falcons while nurturing other gifts at Hawthorne’s Palumbo. The pact proved profitable for coach Anthony Pastore’s squads and culminated with the pre-Thanksgiving battle against Prep Charter High School, 1928 Point Breeze Ave.
“Holiday-related games should be local,” Pastore, of Broad and Porter streets, said of teaming with West Passyunk’s Huskies to make his star’s swan song a bragging rights contest.
Smith moved to Kensington at 12 and came to Pastore’s attention while a middle school defensive end, quarterback and tight end.
“I liked his desire to win,” he said of deciding to suit up for Pastore, the lone head man in the Falcons’ history.
Owning a similar mindset, Smith crafted a quartet of colossal campaigns. In 2007, his future comrades dumped all 11 contests in their premier year, but last month’s finale gave Furness a chance to tally his tenure’s 27th win. He scored from one yard out for his 50th career rushing touchdown and added a 22-yard gallop to paydirt.
Also a defensive back, Smith saw the Huskies even the affair late to force overtime. His final career rushing attempt resulted in a three-yard score, with the pressure immediately reverting back to him and the defense. With help from Bor Bor Kessley, a fellow senior back and All-Public AAAA Silver selection, Smith, also the owner of 12 interceptions, made a great tackle to secure a 20-14 victory.
“That was a big one,” he said of the stop he tabs a chief moment from his career.
Another milestone memory occurred minutes later, when Pastore and athletic director Dave Connolly presented him with a glass frame containing his jersey.
“I could not have accomplished anything without my teammates,” Smith said with his trademark humbleness.
The decision to honor the playmaker came easily to Pastore, who also serves as a Palumbo security officer.
“My easiest job is praising Sharif,” the leader said. “We figured retiring his number would be just one way to pay him back for putting the Furness Falcons on the map.”
The thought of placing his unit among the city’s elites once intimidated Smith, who struggled when attempting to motivate his fellow Falcons.
“I had to grow up fast, and I did,” the prospect said of summoning his resolve and guiding a system that relies on agile legs and minds.
This year presented a new task, as he inherited the full-time quarterback role.
“I had more pressure but enjoyed it,” he said.
He wishes the season had more games for leadership improvement purposes but anticipates enhancing them before he makes his collegiate selection from many courters including Villanova, West Chester and Slippery Rock universities.
“I have to prepare myself, yet I’m sure those around me will continue to rub off,” he said.
While his teammates will busy themselves Dec. 30 with New Year’s Eve plans and resolutions, Smith will be in Edgewater, Md., resolving to score touchdowns. He will play for the North in The Chesapeake Bowl, a game uniting standouts from five states and the District of Columbia.
“I am pretty happy about being involved,” Smith said of being among the 50 players to land a spot on the North’s roster.
He expects many occasions to fraternize with the top guns and yearns to pick up tips on how to muster a burgeoning desire to improve as a player and as a person. In the former role, he has few superiors.
Coming off a winless opening season, the Falcons needed immediate contributions, and he did not shy away from executing. In his first game, he gained 130 yards, kickstarting a year that would produce 930 yards and six victories. Six more wins came the next year, with Smith registering 1,205 yards to help Pastore to clinch his first winning season.
The workhorse bettered his output last year with 1,254 yards, as the Falcons triumphed nine times. They slipped to six wins this year, but Smith racked up six games of at least 100 yards and 1,068 hard-earned total yards. He suited up 42 times in his career and achieved 22 games where he hit at least the century mark, with his high of 256 coming in an ’09 game.
“Again, my teammates should receive the credit,” Smith said.
They will be able to offer more support when he participates in May’s Philadelphia Eagles City High School All-Star Classic at Lincoln Financial Field, 1101 Pattison Ave. By then, he will have made his postsecondary pick and have completed his time on Palumbo’s basketball team, for whom he earned All-Public status last year.
He plans to major in social work, a field that will help him to foster his interest in working with children.
“I’ve helped members of my family and liked being there for them,” the 18-year-old, also a volunteer assistant junior varsity football coach for Furness, said.
By no means done with Pastore, Smith has already determined his coach’s role in his life.
“I’ve just learned so much from him,” he said of the man who has opened his home to him for many holidays.
“He had chances to go to bigger programs, but he stuck with Furness,” Pastore said. “He’s a special kid.”
Smith looks forward to receiving his SAT scores and to growing academically and emotionally.
“The focus is there,” he said. “I’m ready.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
61238128
61238138
