FAYETTEVILLE -- Blake Smith went out in style Monday with the best performance of his high school career.
Smith scored four goals and Central Arkansas Christian defeated Green Forest 4-0 in the Class 3A boys state championship game at Razorback Field. Smith scored two goals in each half for Central Arkansas Christian (15-3), which took 19 shots in the game to 11 for Green Forest (16-2-2).
The championship game was a rematch from 2014, when Green Forest beat Central Arkansas Christian 4-1 to win the Class 5A title. The championship is the first for Central Arkansas Christian since 2015 and the seventh time the Mustangs have reached the finals since 2004. CAC also won a state title in 2008.
Smith is a three-sport athlete who missed the first five games in football after he broke his foot during preseason. He later hurt his back but he was determined to return to soccer after playing for the first time as a junior.
He scored four goals last year against Bauxite, but that performance was easily surpassed by what he did in Monday's championship game.
"This will be one of the greatest memories I'll ever have in my life," said Smith, who was mobbed by his teammates shortly after the game. "My teammates set me up perfectly today. It's been great playing with these guys and I'm really going to miss them. This was a great way to end my high school career."
Smith got the Mustangs started with a goal less than seven minutes in the match on an assist from Patrick Weeks. Smith scored again on an unassisted goal with 22 minutes, 48 seconds left in the first half to give Central Arkansas Christian a 2-0 cushion.
Central Arkansas Christian dominated play in the first half and took nine shots to only one for Green Forest. The Mustangs were on the march again and Smith scored unassisted from the left side after an initial save from the right by Green Forest goalie Freddy Juarez.
His fourth goal came with 20:37 left to play and he barely missed a fifth goal when a Green Forest defender kicked the ball away before it crossed the net.
"(Smith) gets in the right places at the right time," Central Arkansas Christian coach Andrew Stewart said. "He got some ugly goals but they were so important in the state finals."
Green Forest had opportunities for goals in the second half but the the Tigers were stopped each time by Brandon Bishop, the CAC goal-keeper. Frankie Morales had the best chance for Green Forest, but Bishop made a diving stop in the final two final two minutes to secure the shutout victory for CAC.
"Character, character, character," Stewart said of his team. "They have shown so much character this year. I love these boys."
Sports on 05/21/2019