HAMPDEN – Derek Smith has envisioned himself as a quarterback for a long time.

And while it required some patience by the John Bapst of Bangor senior to realize that ambition, it’s being rewarded in championship style.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Smith already has helped John Bapst secure its first LTC crown since 1976, and the 10-1 Crusaders will attempt to win their first outright state title since 1964 when they face 11-0 Winthrop at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

“For us to finally get this far and do good things like we have this year, it builds a name for the program and the school,” said Smith.

“You might have asked someone about John Bapst football four or five years ago when they were losing, and they might say ‘what about it?’ Now you say John Bapst football and they say ‘look what they’ve done, look how far they’ve come from.'”

Smith has completed 116 of 189 passes for 1,922 yards this fall, statistics that have blossomed in recent weeks. In three playoff victories, Smith has passed for 726 yards and seven touchdowns, including two scoring passes in the Crusaders’ 21-14 victory over Bucksport in the Eastern C final.

“First and foremost, he’s one of those kids who has that intangible game sense,” said John Bapst coach Dan O’Connell. “He’s the kid who will dive at the stakes when he’s at nine yards and needs 10. He’s the kid who will tuck it down and run instead of forcing a throw.

“On top of that he really is a student of the game. He constantly wants to watch film. He constantly wants to know what defenses are going to give us.”

The versatile Smith is also John Bapst’s third-leading rusher this fall.

“Derek is a threat with whatever he does,” said John Bapst junior wide receiver Shane Hass. “He can run the ball whether alone or on the option. He can pass the ball, and defenses really have to be on their toes because even if he drops back to pass, he reads the defense really well and can still pull it back and run. He usually gets considerable gains when he does that.”

Last weekend against Bucksport Smith showed off a skill from his past, lining up as a receiver and catching a TD pass from fullback Chase Huckestein as John Bapst unveiled its version of the “wildcat” offense.

“We have plenty of options we can run depending on what defense the other team’s running,” said Smith, “and from there we’ll throw in things we think might work, being creative and having a good time while we’re doing it.”

Smith benefits from an abundance of other playmakers in John Bapst’s wide-open offense, including Huckestein, 1,100-yard rusher Bill Wetherbee, wide receivers Hass and Chris Fogler and freshman tight end Max Andrews.

“With the athletes we have, we can pretty much put them anywhere and expect them to do well,” said Smith.

Smith last played quarterback as a freshman at Bangor High School before transferring to John Bapst as a sophomore.

But his first season with the Crusaders ended with a broken collarbone that sidelined him for the year.

Smith returned last fall and competed for the starting quarterback job, but just before the season started Smith opted to play wide receiver.

“Me and Kyle [Gallant] were going for the job,” said Smith. “But we were getting ready to open up at [Foxcroft], and I really just wanted to know what I was playing the week before so I could take all the reps at whatever position I was going to be playing.

“They were going to announce it the night before the game or right before the game, but I didn’t want to wait so I said I’d go to receiver.”

Smith emerged as one of John Bapst’s top offensive threats as a junior, ranking among the team’s top receivers and also returning three punts for touchdowns as the Crusaders reached the Eastern C final.

This season, there was no doubt who would lead the John Bapst offense.

“His competitiveness gives him an edge in the huddle, the kids will follow him,” said O’Connell. “He wants to win, he wants to be successful, and he goes about it in the right way. He’s the first guy to practice and the last guy to leave. He has created a sense of belief in him … they’ll always follow him because they know he’s prepared.”

eclark@bangordailynews.net

990-8045