Grandson of ex-UA coach Smith helps Gilbert Mesquite advance to quarterfinals

Somewhere in football heaven, former Arizona head coach Larry Smith looked on with a grandpa’s pride Friday night as Preston Smith helped Gilbert Mesquite beat Marana Mountain View in the first round of the state playoffs. Smith’s grandson, a safety who has scholarship offers from Weber State and Indiana State, is also Mesquite’s backup QB and a running back who has gained 565 yards in addition to making 62 tackles. Smith and his teammates will be back in Tucson on Friday to play 11-0 Cienega.