NEWPORT NEWS — Stifled offensively in its foray to D.C. a week ago by a power from one of the nation’s best high school football conferences, Oscar Smith showed on Friday it is still a top dog, if not the top dog, in Hampton Roads.

Behind a big night from quarterback Lonnie Andrews and his receiving corps, and an equally dominant defensive performance, the Tigers, ranked No. 2 in Hampton Roads, defeated No. 6 Warwick 24-6 in a nondistrict game at Todd Stadium.

Andrews, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior, completed 21 of 35 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns, numbers that surely would’ve been better if not for an overthrow or two and some dropped passes. That’s not to say he didn’t get some great play from his receivers, particularly senior Charles McGlown, who caught seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

That, and a running game that netted 100 yards, gave the Tigers (1-1) plenty of room for error that included at least 14 penalties totaling more than 100 yards. The defense increased that margin by limiting the Raiders (0-2) to 118 yards, most of them scrambles by athletic quarterback Zyire White-Epps (12 carries, 91 yards, one TD) while escaping constant pressure.

The win removed the aftertaste of the 17-0 season-opening loss to D.C. power Gonzaga, but Oscar Smith coach Chris Scott saw that, and the physical battle with the Raiders, as a plus.

“It’s not only playing those teams, but traveling to play them,” he said. “We came across the water where they have a great tradition and play exciting football.

“Those games can only prepare us and make us better for the 14th and 15th games.”

Those would be the Class 6 semifinal and championship games, which the Tigers won in capturing the state title a year ago. Andrews was in state playoff form from the get-go, completing his first four passes (for 39 yards) before Tyjae Curtis ran 43 yards to make it 6-0 early on a night when neither team converted a point-after.

Although Warwick only got off 14 plays in the first half, its defense gave it a chance to take a second-quarter lead. The Raiders forced the Tigers to punt from their own end zone, and the kick went out of bounds at the 14. However, the Raiders were called for roughing the snapper and Oscar Smith maintained possession.

Andrews led the Tigers downfield, passing to Breon Gibson for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 12-0 with 1:29 left in the first half. The Tigers recovered an onside kick, and Andrews followed with a 33-yard touchdown pass to McGlown with 2 seconds to play in the half to make it 18-0.

Warwick scored late in the third quarter on White-Epps’ 1-yard run set up, in part, by his 34-yard scramble from pressure. But linebacker Malachi White and the Oscar Smith defense shut down the Raiders almost completely otherwise.

Oscar Smith linebacker Malachi White takes down Warwick quarterback Zyire White-Epps during Friday night’s game at Todd Stadium in Newport News. STEPHEN M. KATZ/STAFF

Andrews’ 42-yard touchdown pass to McGlown with 7:06 left in the game put them comfortably ahead for the stretch run.

“He kept us in rhythm and moving despite the penalties, and he felt, even with that type of performance, he left three touchdowns on the table,” Scott said of Andrews. “We played really well on defense and swarmed to the ball tonight.

“Malachi White is one of the best linebackers in the state.”

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/09/06/lonnie-andrews-swarming-defense-lead-oscar-smith-over-warwick/