Fullback Smith Sneaks Into Limelight : Raiders: Team's other back gets Allen- and Jackson-like attention after touchdown catch.

By CHRIS BAKER

Dec. 31, 1990 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Fullback Steve Smith’s cubical in the Raiders’ locker room is between those of tailbacks Marcus Allen and Bo Jackson, and Smith normally dresses quickly after a game and clears out to make room for reporters waiting for Allen and Jackson.

But there was a crowd around Smith Sunday, and it wasn’t the media overflow from Allen and Jackson.

Smith caught a game-winning 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jay Schroeder with 3:53 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Raiders captured the AFC Western Division championship with a 17-12 victory over the San Diego Chargers at the Coliseum.

On third and four at the Charger 17, Schroeder faked a handoff to Jackson, which drew the defense off Smith, and ran a naked bootleg to the opposite side of the field before lofting a pass to Smith, who was alone at the 10. Smith sprinted into the end zone, where he was mobbed by teammates.

“It seemed like it took an eternity for the ball to come down,” Smith said. “When I caught the ball and turned around I didn’t see anybody there, and I knew I was going to score.”

How did Smith get so wide open?

“Mervyn Fernandez did a great job running (Charger cornerback) Sammy Seale to the other side of the field, and it left it wide open for me,” Smith said. “If Mervyn hadn’t run him off, he would have been between me and the goal line.”

“It was a play we haven’t used much all year, but we ran it against Denver twice a few years ago and scored 60-yard touchdowns on the play,” Raider Coach Art Shell said. “We kept seeing that the inside linebacker (rookie Junior Seau) was coming in from the back side, trying to play the run, so we put the play in on the sideline.”

Seau said he blew an assignment on the play.

“When Bo ran across the field I read it wrong and Smitty snuck across the field,” Seau said. “I was supposed to make an adjustment and it didn’t work. It was a great call.”

The call was even more effective because Schroeder had rushed for four yards and a first down on the same play only three plays earlier in the drive, so the Chargers didn’t expect him to throw.

“It’s called a ‘naked’ (bootleg) because when I run out there, nobody’s there to block them,” Schroeder said. “They weren’t really expecting it.”

But Schroeder credited Smith for making the play work.

“Smitty’s just a workhorse,” Schroeder said. “He’s our blue-collar guy. He doesn’t get any of the publicity, but he’s been an unsung hero for us all year long.”

Normally a decoy and blocker whose role is to open holes for Jackson and Allen, Smith was the primary receiver in making his first touchdown catch of the season. And the Raiders were pleased to see Smith get attention from the media.

“If you would ask anybody on the team they’d tell you that Steve Smith does an incredible job for Bo and I,” Allen said. “There’s a few guys who tend to get the fame and the glory, but some of the true heroes, guys like Steve Smith, go unnoticed.

“I know you guys don’t believe me, but I told him this was going to be his day today. That’s the second guy I’ve told. I’m clairvoyant.”

After Allen had a premonition that wide receiver Tim Brown was due for big game, Brown caught two touchdown passes as the Raiders defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-7, three weeks ago.

“Marcus is our guru, so what Marcus says usually goes,” Smith said. “He was an inspiration to me. He’s one of our greatest leaders.”

But Smith’s work ethic is also an inspiration to the Raiders, who think he labors as hard and gets as little credit as an offensive lineman.

Defensive end Howie Long, who works out with Smith in the off-season, was pleased to see Smith score.

“I’m thrilled to death for Steve Smith,” Long said. “We work out together and nobody works harder than Steve Smith. His role is one that is not always beneficial to Steve Smith, and any time he makes a big play like that I’m tickled pink.

“We kid him a lot because he’s basically the third guard in the backfield, and he never really touches the ball a lot. His job is a thankless one, and he’s a totally selfless player.”

When you play in the same backfield with two Heisman Trophy winners, you quickly get accustomed to being ignored. Smith, who prepared for his role by playing fullback at Penn State, has accepted his fate with grace.

But Smith was the star Sunday, out-gaining Allen and Jackson by rushing for 38 yards on seven carries. Allen had 30 yards on eight carries, and Jackson was held to 28 yards on 11 carries.

With Allen and Jackson struggling, the Raiders’ offense was out of sync, and they trailed the Chargers, 12-10, after John Carney kicked a 21-yard field goal 3:24 into the final quarter.

“I can’t explain it,” Smith said of the Raiders’ sluggish start. “I wish I could answer that. Some days you can’t get it done no matter how hard you try. I’m just glad we won. It wasn’t pretty, but we won.

“Today wasn’t one of my better games, but I’m just happy we won the game.”