Blog LIVE Game Blog: Deep Creek (3-0) at Oscar Smith (2-0)

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Greetings on the is moderately chilly, windy Saturday afternoon in March from Beard-DeLong-Easley Field in Chesapeake for a Southeastern District clash between two unbeaten squads as the Oscar Smith Tigers (2-0) play host to the Deep Creek Hornets (3-0).

Both teams are ranked in the Top 10 in the state in their respective classes; Oscar Smith at #1 in Class 6, while Deep Creek is #6 in Class 5.

We'll have updates coming shortly here and on my Twitter feed @hatfieldsports

 

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It'll be Oscar Smith receiving the opening kickoff.

Kole Jones breaks it down the left sideline 87 yards for a touchdown... but it is brought back on a penalty. Tigers start at their own 14 and running back Kevon King, a junior, busts off a 36-yard run down that same left (Smith) sideline. The Tigers have it at midfield just 30 seconds into the contest.

King runs right up the middle for 12 yards to the Hornets 38 and Deep Creek burns a time-out, just 39 seconds into this one.

 

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Kevon King rushes for a yard and then it's Kole Jones taking a run to the outside for 10. Junior QB Ethan Vasko keeps it and runs 7 yards before Creek senior Caleb Sadler brings him down. A good stop by the Deep Creek defense a couple plays later, after a Smith penalty, as Sadler and junior DL Deontae Roscoe drop King for a loss of 3.

On 3rd & 17 from the Creek 34, Ethan Vasko appears to complete his first pass, short of the sticks, but an illegal man downfield is called on Smith. But on 3rd & 22, Vasko finds King in the flat and he gets plenty of YAC - yards after the catch - to move the chains. In fact, he got it by a yard with a 23-yard gain. Great Bridge transfer Devante Cooper, a senior, gets the two next carries, taking the second to the house.

 

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Deep Creek begins its first series at their own 20 after the touchback with 7:41 to go in the opening period. Following an encroachment penalty, the Hornets run the ball, but lose a couple yards. Cincere Quarterman and Caleb Jones - a couple of juniors - have been disruptive on this first series for the Smith defense. So too has senior and Norcom transfer Keondre Hodges in the trenches.

The Hornets get a first down on 2nd & 7 though with a pass completion from Tony Barnes to receiver Jalen Jones, who makes a nice snag on the inside post. While the Smith defense stops the run on 3rd down a few plays later, a running into the punter penalty will negate a touchdown return from Indiana signee Maurice Freeman. Additionally, it gives Creek a fresh set of down near midfield.

 

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The Oscar Smith defense is flying around and making big hits. First it's Top 250 rated junior DB Sherrod Covil absolutely drilling Hornets WR Tariq Hailes on a two-yard reception. His range, physicality, smarts and frame have made him a coveted recruit, even landing a recent offer from Southern Cal in the Pac-12. Then a play later, senior Kole Jones knocks a receiver backwards for a loss of 5.

On 3rd & long, Creek QB Anthony Barnes throws his first incomplete pass of the day. Oscar Smith's Kole Jones returns the punt 17 yards to their own 42 as the Tigers look to add to their 7-0 lead.

 

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Oscar Smith's run game is not exactly getting the type of yardage they'd like. Deontae Roscoe is proving to be a factor up the middle, plus Jalen Jones made a good stick on the edge. On 4th & 1, the Tigers move the chains with Devante Cooper getting outside.

However, Smith turns it over as Ethan Vasko bobbles the ball dropping back to throw and Creek's Jaylen Arnold, a senior, recovers. Deep Creek needed that takeaway badly and they have it at their own 42 with 5 seconds left in the opening stanza.

End 1stQ - Oscar Smith 7, Deep Creek 0

OS - 15 plays for 118 yards (2 of 2 for 30 pass yards)
DC - 9 plays for 14 yards (3 of 4 for 8 pass yards)

 

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The second period does not begin too well for Deep Cree k, which loses a couple on a run as Tae'Ron Richardson and Marqaz Young are starting to get more active from their linebacker spots. A false start - Creek's first penalty - backs them up five yards. They'll have to go to the air now on 3rd & 13 from their own 39.

 

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Jones is a ball-player, simply put as Coach Andre Twine likes to say. There won't be many opportunities to score on this Smith defense, but this is a drive Creek must take advantage of if they hope to win today.

 

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The Oscar Smith defense plugs the run game and Deep Creek had a chance during that drive, but one of the receivers - not named Jones - dropped the pass. Can't fault Coach Twine for trying a field goal there as they've had some stellar kickers over the years, tutored by ace special teams coach Eric Dellinger.

Smith takes over at their own 33.

 

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Smith pieces together a nice drive with Tyvon Norfleet running the rock - 4 times for 20 yards. But the Deep Creek defense stiffens, thanks in part to a sack from Caleb Sadler.

Coach Chris Scott of the Tigers leaves the offense on the field, and on 4th & 17 from the Hornets 39, Ethan Vasko's pass intended for Kole Jones is dropped.

Big stop for Creek, trailing just 7-0 with 5:21 till half-time.

 

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From their own 39, Deep Creek sees the running game with Elijah Blueford bottled up again. Keondre Hodges drops him for a loss of 3. A pass is incomplete on 2nd down. On 3rd & 13, the Oscar Smith defensive line flexes its muscle...

 

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Oscar Smith had the running game working with QB Ethan Vasko showing his nimble feet, too. Creek would be wise to just run the ball and get to half, either down 7-0 or at 7-3 if they can get in field goal range.

 

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And BOOM, just like that, Smith goes up two scores and that may be a demoralizer for Deep Creek before the break. The Hornets held up really well defensively, but that will take a ton of wind out of their sails.

 

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Deep Creek now looks content to run the ball and go to half still in this one. But gosh, if you're a Hornets fan, it would've felt a whole heck of a lot better down only 7-0 instead of 14-0. A couple of Elijah Blueford runs gain 6 yards with both stops coming from Smith d-lineman Cincere Quarterman, a junior that Coach Chris Scott was high on in chatting with him during pre-game.

Scott uses a time-out with 1 minute left in the half as Creek gets set for a 3rd & 4 play from their own 22.

 

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So much for just running the rock to get to half-time when you have a playmaker on the outside like #5 Jalen Jones, who I still maintain is one of the most underrated prospects in all of Tidewater and perhaps the whole state...

 

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Check that tweet above as it was Caleb Jones rather than Hodges who made the sack. But for Tony Barnes, he's been seeing plenty of both, along with Cincere Quarterman, in his grill throughout the afternoon.

The Oscar Smith defense, outside of a couple of big pass connections from Barnes to Jones by Deep Creek, has been simply dominating.

We'll have some half-time numbers shortly...

 

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Let's go over some of the key numbers at the break...

Stats at the Half:

Oscar Smith Tigers 14:
Ethan Vasko - 3-5 for 46Yds; 7Car. 15Yds.
Kevon King - 7Car. 62Yds; 1Rec. 23Yds.
Devante Cooper - 5Car. 30Yds. TD
Tyvon Norfleet - 4Car. 20Yds.
Xaviyon Harrell - 1Rec. 16Yds.
Caleb Jones - 5 Tackles, 3TFL, 1.5 Sacks,
Cincere Quarterman - 5 Tackles, TFL,
Sherrod Covil - 55-yard INT TD return, Blocked FG

Tigers - 28 plays for 203 total yards (3 of 5 for 46 pass yards; 23 rushes for 157 yards, 2 lost fumbles); 2 turnovers; 6 penalties for 51 yards


Deep Creek Hornets 0:
Anthony Barnes - 5-9 for 92Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio
Jalen Jones - 3Rec. 95Yds.
Elijah Blueford - 10Car. 6Yds.
Caleb Sadler - 8 Tackles (6 Solo), 1.5TFL, 1 Sack
Josh Jack - 6 Solo Tackles
Deontae Roscoe - 5 Tackles, 0.5TFL
Jaylen Arnold - 4 Tackles, Fumble Recovery

Hornets - 21 plays for 90 total yards (5-9 for 92 pass yards, 1 intercept; 12 rushes for minus 2 yards); 1 turnover; 1 penalty for 5 yards

 

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Deep Creek receives the kickoff to start the 2nd half. Quarterback Anthony Barnes rushes four yards ahead to the 31 of the Hornets, where he's met by Jah'ke Hilliard. On 2nd & 6, it's Caleb Jones once again proving to be a force on the d-line for Oscar Smith, dropping Elijah Blueford for a loss of 3. On 3rd & 9, Barnes keeps it and runs out of bounds, gaining maybe a yard or two.

The Hornets have played the field position game fairly well, but now they will need to get a good punt off with Dylan Holbach, who's dealing with a hip flexor.

 

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No need to worry if you're an Oscar Smith fan, though. That's because Ethan Vasko takes matters into his own hands for a score.

 

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Still a lot of football left, but that feels like a potential early dagger here as the Oscar Smith defense seldom gets scored on, pitching shutouts 64-0 of Hickory back on February 23rd and 54-0 of Western Branch back on March 5th.

 

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Sherrod Covil is balling out. No wonder he's got 36 scholarship offers to date with a list that features the likes of Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, among many others on his list.

 

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Playing with great technique, leverage and burst off the ball, plus finishing ball carriers once he gets to them. Coach Chris Scott mentioned in pre-game that he has some Derrick Nnadi like qualities, which is high praise. Scott coached Nnadi, now of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, when he was at Ocean Lakes.

A couple of penalties on both sides - including a personal foul on the Tigers and believe an unsportsmanlike on Deep Creek - brings up a 3rd & 3, which the Hornets get with Cameron Norwood-Chapoteau plowing ahead for 5 tough yards.

 

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Deep Creek's drive fizzles and Dylan Holbach punts it away, where the Tigers take over at their own 25 with 3:50 to go in the 3rd quarter.

Back-to-back completions by Ethan Vasko to sophomore WR Xavier Lewis has the Tigers at the 48-yard line, near midfield, before Kevon King is dropped for a loss of 2 with Jaylen Arnold and Archie Hill combining for that stop behind the line of scrimmage.

With 3:02 to go in the 3rd period, Creek defender Josh Jack is helped off the field with an apparent injury.

 

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Let that clock run, says the guy in this pressbox wanting to check the evening's College Basketball games.

 

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Even though it is a very sunny, picturesque day, it's raining and pouring for Deep Creek right now. Tony Barnes is sacked by a host of Tigers, with Jah'ke Hilliard making the initial stop. Then it's Caleb Jones getting to Barnes on a low snap. On 3rd & 20, Barnes gets rid of it just in time, but it's nearly picked off by a charging Keondre Hodges.

Deep Creek was hanging in there within a score until about two minutes till half-time and that was all she wrote from there...

 

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Smith gets it at the Deep Creek 43 following the punt. Oscar Smith will burn a time-out with 9:32 left in regulation before 3rd & 15 from the Hornets 48.

 

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And for those schedule watching, the remaining two regular season games for Oscar Smith are March 26th at Grassfield and April 2nd vs. Indian River (provided weather and COVID issues don't get in the way).

This team should be the No. 1 seed in Region 6A, and it's going to take a lot to stop the Chesapeake powerhouse from returning to the State Championship game for the fifth time in six seasons (with four different head coaches I might add).

 

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Safe to say that Oscar Smith will win their 18h in a row in the head-to-head series and notch their 9th shutout in that span against the Hornets, barring something unforeseen in these last six minutes.

 

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If you told someone this was a 7-0 game with 2:14 to go in the first half, it would be hard to believe. But that pick-six by Sherrod Covil turned the game upside down right before the break, and Deep Creek didn't recover from that punch to the gut.

 

[757FridayNiteZ]

Matt, I know you are the busiest sports reporter in VA. We DO appreciate you feeding our instantiated needs in that regard!!! Along those lines, if you get a moment during the NCAA BB games, could you post the game stats from yesterday's game?

 

[matthew328826]

Matt, I know you are the busiest sports reporter in VA. We DO appreciate you feeding our instantiated needs in that regard!!! Along those lines, if you get a moment during the NCAA BB games, could you post the game stats from yesterday's game?

Thanks and apologies about that -- meant to last night and doing so now, along with the Video Interviews with Coach Scott and Sherrod Covil after it...

 

[matthew328826]

Here are the final numbers from Oscar Smith's 51-0 shutout of Deep Creek as the Tigers moved to 3- 0 overall, while the Hornets dropped to 3-1 overall.

Final Stats:

Oscar Smith Tigers 51: (3-0 Overall)
Ethan Vasko - 8-10 for 171Yds. 2-0 TD/Int. ratio; 8Car. 60Yds. TD
Kevon King - 8Car. 60Yds. (7Car. 62Yds. in 1st Half); 2Rec. 77Yds. TD
Tyvon Norfleet - 4Car. 40Yds.
Devante Cooper - 5Car. 30Yds. TD
Kole Jones - 1Car. 10Yds; 63Yd. KR TD; 2 Tackles, TFL
Xavier Lewis - 3Rec. 35Yds.
Amonte Jones - 2Rec. 43Yds. TD
Sherrod Covil - 2 INT TD's (55 and 35 yards)
Caleb Jones - 9 Tackles (6 Solo), 7.5TFL, 1.5 Sacks
Cincere Quarterman - 9 Tackles, 2TFL, Sack
Keondre Hodges - 7 Tackles, 2TFL, 0.5 Sack

Tigers - 36 plays for 371 total yards (8 of 10 for 171 pass yards; 26 rushes for 200 yards, 2 lost fumbles); 2 turnovers; 17TFL, 4 Sacks; 9 penalties for 91 yards


Deep Creek Hornets 0: (3-1 Overall)
Anthony Barnes - 5-13 for 92Yds. 0-2 TD/Int. ratio
Jalen Jones - 3Rec. 95Yds, (all in 1st Half); 3 Solo Tackles
Tariq Hales - 1Rec. 2Yds.
Cam Norwood - 10Car. 14Yds. (all in 2nd Half)
Caleb Sadler - 9 Tackles (7 Solo), 2.5TFL, Sack
Josh Jack - 6 Solo Tackles (all in 1st Half)
Jaylen Arnold - 6 Tackles, 0.5TFL, Fumble Recovery
Deontae Roscoe - 6 Tackles, 0.5TFL

Hornets - 46 plays for 75 total yards (5 of 13 for 92 pass yards, 2 intercepts; 33 rushes for minus 17 yards); 2 turnovers; 4TFL, 1 Sack; 3 penalties for 25 yards

 

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Postgame Video Interview with Oscar Smith Coach Chris Scott:



Oscar Smith Head Football Coach Chris Scott chats with VirginiaPreps.com's Matthew Hatfield after his team's 51-0 shutout of Deep Creek in Chesapeake on Saturday, March 20, 2021.

Coach Scott's Tigers, who went 13-2 overall and fell to South County in the Class 6 State Championship during the 2019 campaign, currently sit 3-0 overall. They've outscored those three foes by a combined margin of 169-0 with two more regular season contests scheduled against Grassfield and Indian River before the playoffs in April. All three wins so far have been by running clock margins, a minimum of 35 points.

Scott led Ocean Lakes to a State Championship in 2014. Oscar Smith is trying to win its first State Championship since 2011. Presently ranked No. 1 in the latest Class 6 rankings on VirginiaPreps.com, the Tigers have lost their last five matchups in the State Finals, all to schools from Northern Virginia.

 

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Postgame Video Interview with Oscar Smith 4-Star DB Sherrod Covil:



Oscar Smith Class of 2022 defensive back Sherrod Covil chats with VirginiaPreps.com's Matthew Hatfield following his team's 51-0 shutout of Deep Creek on Saturday, March 20, 2021 in Chesapeake.

Covil, who had a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown and 35-yard pick-six in his team's third consecutive shutout, talks about his impact as well as where things stand on the recruiting front.

Rated a 4-Star prospect by Rivals.com, Covil helped Oscar Smith improve to 3-0 overall as the Tigers have dominated competition in outscoring Southeastern District foes by a whopping 169-0 through three games of the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign.