The distance from Helix High School in La Mesa, California to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego is a little more than 8 miles.
For Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, a Helix Highlander alum, the journey to connect these two places has been a little bit longer than the 10-minute drive down Interstate 8.
“Some of my earliest memories of football are at this stadium,” Smith noted after Sunday’s 33-3 convincing win over the Chargers. “Coming and watching the Chargers play, watching San Diego State play here, I distinctly remember it—running around the stadium, watching football.