Goldsmith another eager young Ike starter

Young players learn on the run and last week while Eisenhower was facing powerful Stillwater, sophomore Brandon Goldsmith just happened to catch the eye of Ike head coach Javon Harris who had him step forward to face the media for the first time Wednesday afternoon.

The 6-0, 165-pounder is just trying to do the best he can and learn as much as possible as he works his path through big-time Oklahoma high school football which features a Friday matchup this week with another District 6AII-1 foe in Southmoore.

“This bunch isn’t as big as some of the other teams we faced and I think we have a good chance to win this week,” Goldsmith said. “I am just trying to work as hard as I can and do whatever I can do to help the team.”

Currently he is the “X” wide receiver on offense, a cornerback on defense and is also a backup quarterback.

“I like being a receiver, especially when I catch the ball,” he said with a big grin. “Serri (Sheridan) is on the other side and he’s taught me a great deal.”

In fact, Sheridan has shared some of the secrets to running the slant, which Sheridan does as well as anyone, scoring twice on that route in a win over Lawton High School.

“You have to make a nice cut, stay on your feet and always run the route the same way,” he said. “I run a 4.68 (40) and that’s one of the better times on the team. Serri is just a little bit faster than I am. One thing I have to keep working on is my blocking. I have to improve my upper-body strength.”

Last week against Stillwater it was his defense that caught the eye of Coach Harris.

“I broke up one big pass play for them and the coaches said I made a couple of big tackles, so I was happy that I’m making improvement,” Goldsmith said.

The young Eagle has parents who both attended Lawton High School where mom played basketball and dad played football. He wasn’t sure, though, which side they sat on at the LHS-Ike game earlier this year.

When it comes to eating, Goldsmith loves seafood, especially shrimp and crab legs.

And while he still has a couple more years of high school, he knows what he wants to do after his sports career ends.

“I am thinking about college and play football but after that I want to be a carpenter,” he said. “I like to use my hands and I like to build things.”

Right now, his favorite class is U.S. Government but he thinks that at times the federal government is too big and ineffective at solving problems and needs to be more efficient.

While Ike faces major challenges in district, this week’s game is one the Eagles seem to have a good shot at winning.

“There are some games we feel like we can win and this is one of those,” Goldsmith said. “We are in pretty good condition but we have to keep drinking water and staying hydrated since it is still rather hot. We have avoided the cramps for most part but you have to always be ready to play and have plenty of fluid to drink.”

With temperatures hitting the mid-90s Friday afternoon that will once be a priority at Cameron Stadium when Southmoore comes calling.