MONTGOMERY, La. (KALB) - Montgomery High School sophomore TJ Small is this week’s ACA Athlete of the Week after accounting for eight total touchdowns in the Tigers’ Week 7 district game against Ringgold.
Small, a first-year starting quarterback, threw for four touchdowns and ran for four more to lead the Tigers to victory.
“It’s not just the big schools that have these very good players, very good athletes,” said junior Eli Bullock, a former ACA Athlete of the Week. “It’s some of these smaller schools that don’t get as much recognition. It’s great to see some of these smaller schools getting some recognition too.”
Small said his coach told him to prepare to play quarterback last year.
“My heart dropped because I was going to be scared,” Small said. “First game, my confidence started building up. Every time I get a touchdown, I tell Coach I got the confidence to go get another one. The receivers, they trust in me. The line trusts me. I’m not selfish. I can’t do it without them.”
Junior Malachi Butler said Small works to include everyone on offense.
“Always trying to help somebody out,” Butler said. “Make sure nobody feels left out. Everybody gets their catches. You know, everybody’s able to get the ball. To see him be able to do that. Him stepping up, you know, first-year starting quarterback. Just to see him do that, it’s amazing. The throws and runs he was able to make, you know, just happy for him.”
Small has learned from another former ACA Athlete of the Week, Mason Jordan, who holds multiple records for Montgomery.
“It’s very special,” Bullock said. “Watching players just grow, get better, helping them every week, in and out of practice, learning routes, learning plays. We haven’t had a bunch of players come through here like Mason, the accolades, the records. So, it’s really good because he’s also going to be a player chasing those records as well.”
Small said he looked up to Jordan during his freshman year.
“Last year, my freshman year, when Mason was a senior, basically just looked up to him, how good he was, and asked him a couple questions on how hard it is, gave him some tips about it, and he told me when I get a chance, just go do it,” Small said.
Coach Taylor Williams said Small has taken ownership of the offense in his own way.
“It’s been great,” Williams said. “He’s taking it with stride, no complaints. And just getting to see him evolve from where he was to where he kind of threw it into him, like, hey, you may have to do this. He just said, yes, coach, whatever you need, and just to see him take ownership of it and ownership of the offense and play it his way. He’s not out there trying to be Mason. He’s trying to be TJ, and so far, that’s working good for him.”
Small also plays basketball in the winter and runs track in the spring for Montgomery.
“Track builds my speed up for football, football builds the muscle and up for basketball, and they get to the paint score and all that,” Small said.
Williams said multiple-sport participation is common for Montgomery athletes.
“It’s everything, and that’s the same with a lot of kids around here,” Williams said. “Every kid’s got to pretty much do everything because we don’t have many of them. But it all translates. Each sport helps the next, and you can see glimpses of every sport in the sport you’re playing, and I think it’s just great for him.”
Small’s father, Brian Small, coaches for the Montgomery Tigers.
“He’s very tough on TJ, to say the least, and he tells him when he messes up, but he pats him on the back when he does great,” Bullock said. “He also talks to me all the time, too. He’s very funny, very great dude, and overall, very great father.”
Williams, who also played for his father, said the father-son dynamic on the sideline is meaningful.
“You understand that as a coach’s kid, your expectations are held to a different standard,” Williams said. “Coming from a kid that I played for my dad, and getting them to see that relationship on the sideline on Friday nights. It’s always special, and I hope they cherish it and enjoy it, because it’s really something special that you’ll miss when it’s over.”
Small described the relationship with his father on the sideline.
“He’s a coach on the sidelines, so anything good or bad happens,” Small said. “If something bad happens, he builds me up. If something good happens, give me a little fist bump, tell me to go do another one. It’s just a wish you could make come true. You always want your dad right there by your side, with your mom cheering in the stands. Since five years old, teaching me everything I know, and helping me learn everything.”
For his ability to rise to the occasion and deliver under pressure, Montgomery sophomore TJ Small is this week’s ACA Athlete of the Week!
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