VIENNA — Defending Class 6 state champion Oscar Smith got its first real test on Saturday in its quest to repeat as a state champion.
In an uncharacteristically sloppy game filled with penalties and turnovers, the Tigers made a fourth-down stop at their own 12-yard line to beat host James Madison 34-28 to advance to next week’s championship against North Stafford at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.
Jayden Covil’s breakup of a fourth-down pass at the goal line preserved the victory for Oscar Smith, which led 27-7 at halftime on the strength of three touchdown passes from quarterback Lonnie Andrews.
“The defense played a big role in today’s game,” said Andrews, who finished with 327 yards passing against last year’s state runner-up.
“We had to overcome some of those penalties,” said Oscar Smith coach Chris Scott, whose team had two touchdowns called back on holding calls. “… Last year, we fought our way back into it and were able to finish the game. This year, we just had to finish. They (Madison) made some plays.”
After blowing out Lloyd Bird and Thomas Dale by a combined score of 98-7 in their past two playoff contests, the Tigers (12-1) got off to an inauspicious start Saturday as tailback Breon Gibson fumbled the ball on the game’s first offensive play, setting up Madison with a first down on the Tigers’ 24-yard line. However, the Warhawks (9-5) failed to capitalize when Alexander Marshall pushed a 33-yard field-goal attempt wide right.
Oscar Smith made it 7-0 on a 6-yard scoring strike on fourth down on the next possession. Moments later, Brandon Church’s first of two interceptions set up the Tigers at the Madison 45-yard-line. On first down, Andrews found Quali Price in the end zone for a 14-0 lead. Two
possessions later, an Andrews interception set up Madison at the Oscar Smith 11-yard line. A touchdown run by the Warhawks’ Matthew Weiler made it 14-7.
A 9-yard scoring scamper from Oscar Smith’s Reginald Wallace made it 21-7 midway through the second quarter before Michigan commitment Travis Johnson made it 27-7 just before halftime on a 49-yard hookup with Andrews. Cahleef Graham’s point after was blocked.
Madison had an 80-yard scoring drive to start the third quarter to make it 27-14. Oscar Smith followed with a 67-yard scoring drive of its own, capped by a fake field goal for a touchdown by Graham. A 1-yard scoring plunge from Weiler made it 34-21 to start the fourth quarter.
Church’s second interception in the end zone prevented a Madison touchdown minutes later after a botched shotgun snap gave Madison the ball at the 15-yard line. However, a holding call negated a 64-yard touchdown scramble by Andrews, and Madison scored on a 35-yard TD pass
from Andrew Rowan to Anthony Voinis to make it 34-28 with 4:12 left to go. Four minutes and 66 yards later, Oscar Smith was able to exhale, moving one step closer to another state title.
“These guys are a focused group and understand they can’t think it’s just going to be given to us,” Scott said. “At this time of the year, you are going to play against a great program and great players.”
