Will Smith was involved among the several memorable moments from the 2025 World Series, particularly during Game 7 as the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a comeback against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Although Smith’s go-ahead home run in 11th inning proved to be the difference for the Dodgers, he also was part of a play at home plate during the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded and one out, Miguel Rojas fielded a chopper at second base and threw home just in time to prevent the Blue Jays from earning a walk-off win.
Rojas’ throw required Smith to reach across his body to make the catch on the first-base side. As a result he momentarily lifted his right foot off the ground before getting it back down to touch home plate a split-second before Isiah Kiner-Falefa slid across.
The single moment having a significant impact on the outcome of a game is one USC head coach Lincoln Riley revealed on this week’s episode of “Trojans Live” that he has shown to the football team:
“It’s everything. It’s being in position. We were talking about it the week before with Jayden, when he forced the fumble, it’s being in position to make those plays even though you don’t know when they’re going to show up. Whether it’s that, whether it’s Jahkeem play, whether it’s Kennedy Urlacher knocking the receiver out, and his foot is out by a couple inches. We showed the guys the visual from the World Series, of the play at home, and his foot is like that far from touching it. We’ve used it a couple times, and then showed the visual of the Iowa receiver’s foot. When you’re playing these big-time games against really good teams and good competition, that’s what this thing comes down to.”
As Riley alluded to, the Trojans benefitted over the last two weeks from quarterback Jayden Maiva chasing down a Northwestern defender to lay a hit that resulted in a forced fumble and touchback, rather than his interception becoming a pick-6.
Against Iowa this past weekend, freshman Jahkeem Stewart intercepted a pass that was deflected, and Kennedy Urlacher pushed a wide receiver just enough so that an attempted pass was ruled incomplete because of stepping on the sideline.
In similar fashion to Smith getting his foot down at home plate and thus allowing the Dodgers to ultimately win their second World Series in a row, the key plays the Trojans have made this month kept them in position for a potential College Football Playoff berth.
It marks a second instance of the Dodgers’ impact reaching college football this season, as manager Dave Roberts wowed the Alabama Crimson Tide during his recent visit.
Will Smith catches World Series record
Buoyed by catching all 18 innings in Game 3, Will Smith set a World Series record for his work behind the plate.
Smith was in his stance for a total of 73 innings over the seven games, which is the most by any catcher in World Series history.
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