With this being his third season as East Ascension’s football coach Brock Matherne waited for such a moment from quarterback Zaylen Smith.
The Spartans were involved in one of their greatest games with rival St. Amant when Matherne needed an individual to bring an assertive voice to his sideline.
Smith, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior, was on his way to delivering such a performance, not only with his actions on the field, but with the leadership he showed on the sideline with the opposition was breathing down their necks.
“In my opinion that was his coming out party,” Matherne said of Smith. “In a sense, showing what he can do which is what we all knew he could do with his athletic ability, but also as a leader.”
Smith was responsible for a school record 454 total yards and six touchdowns, leading East Ascension to a memorable 45-42 double overtime victory over St. Amant at The Pit.
For his efforts, Smith is this week’s LouisianaSports.net’s Player of the Week.
“Just the way he stepped up and led the team, and it was one of those moments we had been waiting for since I’ve really been here,” Matherne said. “It was a moment when someone stood up and said, ‘Put the ball in my hands and I’m going to take care of it.’
“That’s really what he did after his third or fourth touchdown,” Matherne said. “I went to celebrate with him, and he let out a yell like, ‘I’m not letting us lose this game.’”
Focal point of offense
Matherne said offensive coordinator Dane Charpentier developed a game plan for St. Amant that featured Smith more as a runner in EA’s offense.
It turned out to be a shrewd move with Smith carrying 17 times for 182 yards and three touchdowns.
“He told me he was going to give Zaylen the keys to the car, and he was going to take us to where we needed to and he did just that,” Matherne said. “We have a ton of weapons on this team everywhere. We have the ability to spread the ball out and I think we did that, too.
“He normally doesn’t run the ball as much,” Matherne said. “We went more of an empty (set), five-wides with no running backs. Our run game came from the quarterback. Normally we’re not trying to give our quarterback that many carries a game. This week, with the way that they play defense and the weapons we had, we felt that gave us our best advantage and it worked.”
East Ascension (3-1) travels to Walker (4-0) in a battle of 1-0 teams in District 5-5A on Friday at 7 p.m.
Matherne said the emphasis to get Smith more involved in the running game was born from a holiday practice two years ago when he was the scout team quarterback preparing the varsity for that week’s game.
When he took off and scored a touchdown against the first-team defense, Matherne realized he had something special for the future.
“It was almost like we had to beg the kid to run,” he said. “We knew how fast he was. I had to ask him why he didn’t do that all of the time. He really wanted to throw the ball. He didn’t really want to use his athleticism.
“We got more out of him last year,” he said. “We thought he was improving each and every week and then the injury bug got him, and we lost him for the season.”
EA lost the services of Smith going into the fifth game of the 2025 season and didn’t get him back until the regional round of the Division I nonselect playoffs.
On his first play against Central, Smith injured his knee and didn’t play again, a game the Spartans lost 46-32.
Bouncing back
Smith’s response in the offseason was to Matherne’s liking.
“This was his best strength and conditioning offseason,” he said. “He’s bigger, stronger, faster. He’s taken on a leadership role where the offense is his and he hasn’t let it go. He’s been pushed by some great competition (Triston Manuel) who can throw the ball with the best of them. That competition made Zaylen better, it made him stronger.
“He’s developed what this entire team’s developed in Year 3 with us,” he said. “Zaylen does whatever it takes for us to win. If he has to run, he’s running extremely well. He’s thrown the ball extremely well. He still has a ton he can improve on. His mindset is the thing that’s changed the most. He wants the ball and he wants to do whatever it takes for our program to win.”
Smith, who was 20 of 35 passing for 272 yards, threw his third touchdown of the game – a 7-yard TD to Zion Delong in the first overtime before St. Amant answered with a tying touchdown at 42-42.
The Spartans defense held and forced a field goal that was missed, opening the door for Reilly Hopkins to make the game-winning effort from 18 yards out.
“He cramped twice and didn’t miss one play,” Matherne said of Smith. “He told me not to worry and that he would be back. He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid. He doesn’t have any quit in him. With all of the accolades he’s received and will receive, he’s a better person than he is anything else. One of the best young men I’ve been involved with.”
Smith has completed 52 of 84 passes for 803 yards with an interception and six touchdowns. He’s also rushed 46 times for 307 yards – 6.7 yards per carry – and seven TDs.
“He’s a special kid, having a special start to the season so far,” Matherne said.
