Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith played high school football in Glendora, located northeast of Los Angeles. The Beavers travel to L.A. to take on Southern Cal at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

CORVALLIS — Ever wonder why Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith is among the most prolific in college football at going for it on fourth down?

There are the analytics. But for Smith, also an insane competitive appetite.

Consider what he’d do for a toothpick.

Gary Day, Smith’s high school football coach at Glendora, located northeast of Los Angeles, said his team used to have pool parties during the summer. One of the games involved a toothpick. A coach would put a toothpick somewhere at the bottom of the pool. Then players would line up around the pool, looking for the toothpick.

“The first time you see it, you dive in,” Day said. “The guy, he’s so competitive. There would be almost fights, jumping on each other. That’s the kind of kid he was. He never liked to lose that one. Always tried to get the toothpick. Win that game.”

It’s been 25 years since Day coached Smith, who returns to the region where he grew up this weekend when Oregon State plays USC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Day left football the year after Smith graduated and is now a vice principal at La Vista/La Sierra high schools in Fullerton, California.

Day became Glendora’s football coach in 1994, Smith’s sophomore year. Smith was Day’s starting quarterback for three years before he went on to play quarterback for Oregon State.

Day vividly recalls Smith’s first game as his starter. It was against a high-profile opponent. Day assured Smith’s mother that he was going to ease her 16-year-old son into action, mostly run the ball and maybe pass 10-15 times in the game.

“I think he threw 35 or 40 times, and like 200 or 300 yards. His mom goes, ‘I thought you were only going to have him pass 10 or 15 times.’ I said, ‘Oh, well, that went out the window,’ ” Day said.

Day doesn’t recall Smith specifically talking to him about wanting to be a coach. But Smith’s actions screamed coach.

“His knowledge of the game, his work ethic, his leadership style, even at that age,” Day said. “He wasn’t 6-foot-6, or a 6-4 quarterback. He was 5-10, 170 pounds. He’s going to play college and then do something else. I think that’s been in the back of his mind the whole time, to be a coach.”

Day recalls a game when Glendora faced Upland, a California football powerhouse. Glendora trailed by six with 90 seconds left in the game when they got the ball.

Day knew Glendora would win the game. Smith gave him the confidence.

“He’s such a great leader. Even when he was a little kid, kids followed him. He had very high expectations,” Day said.

Day said he’d allow Smith to call his own plays. Smith voraciously watched game film. He’d even spend Saturday mornings watching film with coaches when teammates were elsewhere.

Day said it only figures Smith has had success in his post-playing football life.

“Nothing surprises me with what Jonathan does, because he was that way when he was 16 years old,” Day said.

Smith said Glendora was a lot like Corvallis, a small town where “you go through the Little League, you go to the same junior high, get to the high school and everyone’s going to the same spots. … It was a good place and had some good coaches.”

Smith doesn’t know if Day’s mannerisms rubbed off on him, but says his staff “generally cared about the kids. I think we’re trying to do that as a staff as well.”

Day said he doesn’t take credit for Smith’s unshakable belief to convert fourth downs, except for this:

“When he was playing, we always said, if you can’t make a yard, you probably shouldn’t be playing,” Day said. “Now maybe he’s gotten a little more crazy with more than a yard, but I think for him, he prepares very well. And he’s confident.”

Day hasn’t kept in touch with Smith in recent years. Smith is busy, and so is Day. He has five children, and two play college sports.

“I try to watch all their games,” he said.

Day says he’s a USC fan, but he might set that aside Saturday night if has a chance to watch Trojans-Beavers.

“He’s done a great job and I’m proud of him,” Day said.