NATCHEZ — Although his prediction didn’t quite come to fruition, Natchez High’s Ross Smith made the most of his Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star game appearance.

Earlier in the week Smith had predicted, half in jest, that the South team would win convincingly — however that was not the case.

Despite Smith’s goal to put the South ahead 2-1, the North’s offense was too potent as they eventually went on to net four unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 North victory.

Smith, who did not start because of what he called a “fluke” off-practice the night before, came into the game off the bench and made an immediate impact.

“I was making a lot of runs, hustling and trying to make a difference,” Smith said.

Just minutes after coming into the game Smith put the South ahead.

After a North defenseman made a play on the ball and slowly turned to kick it back to the goalkeeper, Smith snuck in, stealing the ball from the unaware defenseman with no one between him and the goalkeeper.

He finished the play by burying the ball behind the caught-off-guard goalkeeper, putting the South ahead and tallying the first Natchez High goal in the boy’s soccer All-Star game history.

“It meant a lot to me. It was disappointing because I wasn’t starting,” Smith said.

Natchez High’s soccer coach, Dennis Hogue, was in attendance at the game and said he was excited for Smith.

“It was a proud moment,” Hogue said of Smith’s goal. “(The goal is) bragging rights for him. He can always say he scored a goal in the All-Star game.

“Of all the schools represented down there, a Natchez boy put one in.”