By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — Caleb Smith, the Staples High quarterback who helped lead the team to its first state championship in nearly two decades this fall — with a separated shoulder, no less — continues winning accolades.

MaxPreps, a CBS Sports-owned website that covers high school sports nationwide, on Tuesday named Smith as its Connecticut football player of the year, one of 50 players honored from each state for the recently concluded ’23 season.

“Winning the Player of the Year is a tremendous honor, but only happened because of the hard work and dedication of my teammates and coaches over the season,” Smith said. “Everyone of them gave their all, every day, all year long.”

In the state Class LL title game Dec. 9, Smith’s throwing arm was injured on his first toss of the game, which the Wreckers went on to win, 21-20, over West Haven. Nonetheless, he proceeded to complete five passes for 84 yards and rushed the ball 18 times for 97 yards — with three rushing touchdowns — in the come-from-behind victory.

“We’ve been dreaming about winning this title since we started playing together in third grade, and so happy we could do so for our school and our town,” Smith said.

The Wreckers finished the season with a 12-1 record. That capped a tremendous Staples football career for Smith, with the MaxPreps citation only the latest honor.

Smith also is a two-time First Team All-State and two-time First Team All-FCIAC Team selection, and FCIAC Player of the Year.

Smith’s total passing yards (5,138) are tops all time in the Staples football program’s history, and his career rushing yards (2,307) and rushing touchdowns (44) are both third in school history.

Smith holds seven records in all. In addition to ranking first in total passing yards, he set the standard for career total yards, passing yards in a season, passing yards in a game, TD passes in a season, TD passes in a game and pass completions in a season.

Smith threw 49 touchdown passes and went 21-3 as a starter. He was honored with Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State recognition.

A three-sport athlete, Smith is also a standout basketball and lacrosse player, and has posted a .797 combined winning percentage for the three sports since the start of his junior year. Over that period, he has a 59-15 record for football, basketball and lacrosse.

In addition to the football championship — the Wreckers’ first since 2005 — Smith played on a state championship lacrosse team and the state runner-up basketball team last season.