Oscar Smith continued its dominance over Indian River last week when the Tigers jumped out to a big lead and then held off a late rally to beat the Braves 33-20 in front of more than 2,500 fans.
Since 2000, Oscar Smith is 25-1 against Indian River, but the last four meeting have been settled by less than 14 points.
The lone time Indian River won was in 2018, when the Braves won the Southeastern District title.
Oscar Smith quarterback Lonnie Andrews III said winning this game is the momentum the Tigers need.
“It’s always one of the biggest games we have all year. The rivalry. The intimacy. It’s a very big game,” said Andrews, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions. “And to be able to come out here and get this ‘W’ means a lot to me and the team.”
Indian River quarterback Lord Malik Heru escapes pressure from Oscar Smith defender Brandon Church for a rushing touchdown Saturday. He passed for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the game, but also threw three interceptions. (Billy Schuerman/Staff)
Indian River showed a lot of fight against Oscar Smith, rallying a 27-point halftime deficit. .
“We’re never going to lay down. As long as there’s time on the clock, we’re going to fight,” said Indian River coach Brandon Carr. “They battled, and I’m so proud of them. They fought and kept going. That’s just a testament to their will and their mindset.”
Carr also was impressed with Indian River freshman Lord Malik Heru, who was playing in his first big game. He threw an interception on his first pass attempt. .
“I think he did well,” Carr said about Heru, who completed 10 of 17 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, with three interceptions. “We got the guys around him and we’re going to get better. We’re going to be fine, and he’s doing a good job.”
Syracuse commit keeps Warriors rolling
Nansemond River senior Tyrell Grant Jr. showed why he’s one of the best quarterbacks in Hampton Roads last week as he accounted for 259 total yards and four touchdowns, two rushing and two passing, in a win over previously unbeaten Western Branch.
“We just wanted to come out here and do our job, and I feel like we did that pretty well,” he said. “There’s still some small stuff that we have to work on as a team and individually.”
Following the game, Nansemond River coach Alonzo Ricks Jr. was asked what he thought about Grant’s performance.
“He’s all right,” Ricks said jokingly. “But this team is special, and this senior class is special. I’m so blessed to have them. Tonight it was his night. Next week it might be somebody else.”
Big games this week in each district
Oscar Smith (2-1 overall, 1-0 district) travels to Suffolk to play King’s Fork (3-0, 2-0) in a Southeastern District showdown. Oscar Smith has won 18 of the past 20 titles. The Bulldogs won its lone title in 2023.
Churchland (4-0, 1-0) travels to Norfolk to play Maury (2-1) at Powhatan Field. Churchland hasn’t won a title since the Truckers shared it in both 2009 and 2010. Maury, which hasn’t played a district game yet, has won the past six district titles, including sharing it in 2018.
And four-time defending Beach District champion Green Run (4-0) travels to Kempsville (2-1). The Stallions have won 47 consecutive district games in a row. The last time the Chiefs won a district title was when they shared it in 2002.
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
