Class 6 Final Blog - Oscar Smith (12-2) vs. Westfield (14-0)

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These two teams continue to slug it out like the heavyweight fight it has been in this series.

And Oscar Smith takes the lead.



So for the second straight week in the State Playoffs, Oscar Smith has erased a double-digit deficit in the 2nd half to take the lead.

 

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Bad field position again for Westfield as they can't scoop up the kickoff right away and Joseph Bray, sophomore for Oscar Smith, makes a bone-jarring tacle.

Westfield begins at their own 11.

First play results in a tipped pass that nearly was picked off. The next play, a run, goes for just 1 yard as Kyle Thomas and his line mates stop it, putting the Bulldogs in an unenviable 3rd & 9 from their own 12.

 

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Backs against the wall, no problem. Westfield steps up the plate and delivers... again.

 

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Love the aggressiveness by Kyle Simmons to go for 2 there. He knows his kicking game is spotty and the tight end was completely uncovered. Last year, it was Nolan Cockrill as that fullback/tight end/h-back type doing the damage. Today, it has been Clancy.

 

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Cam Kelly has proven very capable as he had a huge game running the ball from the RB spot in their regional quarterfinal comeback win over Cox in OT.

 

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On 2nd & 7 from midfield - Tigers QB Dominique Brooks pulls it down after surveying the field and scrambles for 8 yards to move the chains. Westfield's defense needs to get a stop to catch its breathe. But with Cam Kelly carrying the ball, that is much easier said than done.

Kelly pushes ahead for a gain of 14 yards to the Westfield 28. The Oscar Smith o-line is getting stronger here in this one against a very fierce Westfield d-line.

Bulldogs call a time-out with 1:47 left in the 3rd period.

 

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Zeek Mayes is blocking his tail off for Oscar Smith up front. Cam Kelly is run out of bounds for just 2 yards by Arron Dishun, who has made quite a few of the Westfield tackles today.

Then it's the Army commit Nolan Cockrill, a guy who's almost impossible to block one-on-one an entire game, collapsing the pocket and sacking Dom Brooks.

3rd & 13 now at the Westfield 31 for Smith.

 

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Mysteriously, the Tigers dial up a wide pitch on 3rd & 13. Kelly is dinged up now on the bench as Khalid Wilson is getting looked at and the trainer will check on Kelly next.

The drive was so promising for Oscar Smith, but the Westfield defense dug deep and showed their toughness, their mettle and why they are riding a 23-game winning streak (longest in VA).

 

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With 2 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, Oscar Smith is called for a delay of game penalty that will have them punt it away on 4th & 24 from the Westfield 42. Check that, now 4th & 29 from the Bulldogs 47 following a false start. Two key penalties giving Westfield a chance to have adequate field position.

A nice punt by Azze Attar that is fair caught at the 13. We've reached the End of 3... Westfield 12 minutes away from a 3-peat. But the way these two trade right hooks and uppercuts, my guess is we may be headed for OT in this one...

 

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Stats thru 3 quarters of action...



On 2nd & 7 from their own 16, Noah Kim finds Taylor Morin, who spins his way up to the 24-yard line to move the chains. Morin has more than held his own in a matchup of stars against Cam Kelly.

On 1st & 10, Kim is flattened by T.J. Tucker of Oscar Smith.

 

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After the Westfield punt, Oscar Smith will take over at their own 42-yard line, trailing the Bulldogs 28-21 with 10:14 remaining.

With two backs really dinged up in Kelly and Wilson, the Tigers may be forced to go to the air a good deal the rest of the way to try and hit a big play. Two of their three touchdowns were splash plays - a 71-yard run from Cam Kelly and 52-yard scoring reception he had on a pass from Dom Brooks.

 

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That places the ball back at their own 31, facing a 2nd & 21. A potential drive killer.

 

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The Westfield defensive stunt out of their 3-4 confuses Tigers QB Dominique Brooks, who is dropped for a loss. Smith punts it away on 4th & 20 from their own 32.

 

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Westfield begins at their own 45 and the run by Eugene Asante goes nowhere as Tigers DE Jalen Moore was ready for him. But what will drive Kyle Simmons crazy is a holding penalty pushes them back to their own 36.

 

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Eugene Asante with a big run into Oscar Smith territory wipes it away... looked like it was either the left guard or left tackle holding Tigers DT Kyle Thomas.

Asante says no problem, I'l do it again. A 19-yard run to the 50. So a big 3rd & 5 coming.

 

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Bulldogs keep milking that clock.

 

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I don't get that one at all and wonder if it was a designed play there or Taylor Morin, who threw it, decide on his own to pass it once the end around was pretty much stopped.

So after Kelly's nifty return, Oscar Smith has great field position at the 23-yard line of Westfield with just under 4 minutes to play.

We have drama at HU.

P.S. - How good is Cam Kelly? If a certain college hasn't offerd him by now, they should. Guy is a fantastic playmaker.

 

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Fale start on the Tigers then a gain of 3. 2nd & 12 from the Westfield 25 and the pass is intercepted by Taylor Morin - his 2nd today and 10th of the season.



Also the 3rd time Dom Brooks has been picked off today. And by my count, the Tigers' 4th turnover.

 

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Eugene Asante moves the chains and Westfield now is facing 2nd & 7 from their own 34 as we tick near just 2 minutes remaining in this one. Another great battle between two of the state's finest football programs.

 

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Give that offensive line - as well as Asante (who has a good blend of speed, power and balance) - a ton of credit. His blockers of senior Logan DeMoney, Army commit Harmon Saint Germain, junior center Bryan Jewell, senior right guard Thomas Beamon and senior right tackle Michael Patterson have done their job tonight against a very physical, tough Oscar Smith defense.

 

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Oscar Smith burns their final time-out after Cirillo's second straight run. Westfield facing 3rd & 3 from the 50 with 33 seconds to play.

Do the Tigers - who have won overtime postseason games over Cox and King's Fork this year - have any magic left in them to come up with some kind of takeaway?

 

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Are you kidding? The Tigers are like a cat - they have 9 lives.

So no time-outs, Tigers have it at their own 49 with 27 seconds left. Can they pull off the miracle?

 

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Dom Brooks completes a pass for 15 yards to Kenny Etheridge.

They spike it with 15 seconds left. Tigers have it 2nd & 10 at the Westfield 36. Bulldogs clinging to a 28-21 lead.

 

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Westfield does it again with defense as they stop Oscar Smith on the final play of the game for the third consecutive year to hold off the Tigers and capture the State Championship. Just an unbelieveable job by Kyle Simmons, the Bulldogs and his staff.

 

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Final Stats, Video and More to come later... stay tuned!

 

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Final Stats:

Westfield Bulldogs 28: (15-0 Overall)
Noah Kim - 8-21 for 205Yds. 3-0TD/Int. ratio
Eugene Asante - 19Car. 109Yds. TD (12Car. 98Yds. TD in 2nd Half)
Taylor Morin - 5Rec. 82Yds. TD; 2INT's
Gavin Kiley - 1Rec. 88Yds. TD
Bizzet Woodley - 1Rec. 18Yds.
Joe Clancy - 1Rec. 17Yds. TD
Arron Dishun - 10 Tackles (6 Solo), TFL
Israel McClain - 9 Tackles (4 Solo), TFL, FF
Davonte Roberts - 8 Tackles (3 Solo)
Dakota Beach - 8 Tackles (2 Solo)
Dylan Winesett - 7 Tackles (3 Solo), 0.5 Sack
Nolan Cockrill - 6 Tackles (3 Solo), 2TFL, Sack

Bulldogs - 57 plays for 307 total yards (35 rushes for 102 yards; 8-22 for 205 pass yards, 1 intercept); 12 first downs; 7 punts for 215 yards; 6 of 15 on 3rd down, 0 of 1 on 4th down; 3 Defensive Sacks; 2 turnovers with 1 fumble lost; 6 penalties for 40 yards


Oscar Smith Tigers 21: (12-3 Overall)
Dominique Brooks - 5-13 for 89Yds. 1-3TD/Int. ratio
Cam'Ron Kelly - 9Car. 106Yds. TD; 1Rec. 52Yds. TD; 2-5 for 8Yds. 0-1 ratio; INT
Khalid Wilson - 22Car. 101Yds; 2Rec. 7Yds.
Keyon Watson - 1Rec. 18Yds.
BriQuan Harrell - 1Rec. 15Yds; 3 Solo Tackles
Keshon Artis - 8 Tackles (4 Solo), TFL, FF, Blocked Punt
Horace Sawyer - 8 Tackles (3 Solo), 2.5TFL, Sack
Kyle Thomas - 8 Tackles (2 Solo), 1 Sack
Elijah Alston - 6 Tackles (1 Solo), TFL
Malcolm Britt - 5 Tackles (2 Solo), 3TFL, 2 Sacks
Jaylen Todd - 5 Tackles (1 Solo)

Tigers - 59 plays for 304 total yards (40 rushes for 207 yards; 7-19 for 97 yards passing, 4 intercepts); 14 first downs; 5 punts for 159 yards; 5 of 12 on 3rd down, 1 of 1 on 4th down; 3 Defensive Sacks; 5 turnovers with 1 fumble lost; 10 penalties for 77 yards

 

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Postgame Press Conference with the Westfield Bulldogs:



Postgame Press Conference with the Oscar Smith Tigers:



Postgame Interview with Westfield Head Coach Kyle Simmons: