Blog LIVE Game Blog - Oscar Smith (2-1) at Indian River (2-1)

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Greetings from James L. Frye Stadium in Chesapeake as the Indian River Braves (2-1) play host to the Oscar Smith Tigers (2-1) in a Southeastern District showdown.

Last year, Indian River beat Oscar Smith for the first time since 1998, ending the Tigers' run of dominance atop the Southeastern District. New coaches take center stage for this one with Marcus Ferebee at the helm of the Braves, while Chris Scott directs the Tigers.

We'll have updates throughout the day here, on my Twitter feed @hatfieldsports and on Reese Becker's Twitter feed (@ReeseBecker). Almost set for kick-off!

 

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It is worth noting that former Indian River Head Coach Glenwood Ferebee, now at the helm of Vance High in Charlotte, is on the sidelines today watching the Braves and supporting his former team as well as brother, Marcus Ferebee.

It'll be Oscar Smith kickoff off to Indian River to start here in front of this packed crowd of thousands...

 

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That came after Oscar Smith Coach Chris Scott tried an onside kick. But the defense gets a big takeaway.

 

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Oscar Smith is on the move after a completion of more than 30 yards from sophomore QB Ethan Vasko to WR Justin George. LaMareon James came in at the end of the play and stripped George, but Tigers WR Romon 'Man-Man' Copeland was able to recover the ball.

The Tigers gain 9 yards on a pair of runs from Tyvon Norfleet, who then loses a couple on 3rd & 1 as Liberty commit Lincorey Lucas stops him. On 4th & 4, the Tigers appear to convert, but a penalty makes it 4th & 15 from the Braes 39. Vasko scrambles for 9, so it'll be a turnover on downs.

With 9:05 left in the opening quarter, Indian River takes over for its second possession at their own 30.

 

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Indian River's second possession results in a 3 & out. The Braves get nothing going on the ground game and on second down their sophomore QB, Zakai Minggia, slips out of a sack that would've lost significant yardage and turns it into a gain of 2. Their 3rd & 7 play is a run of 2 yards by Minggia.

Romon Copeland fields the Indian River punts at his own 38 and returns it for a gain of 6.

Oscar Smith's second possession begins at their own 44-yard line with 6:45 to go in the opening quarter.

 

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Oscar Smith is starting to get better push up front with their interior o-line of Marquis Kimble, Maarten Woudsma (6-5, 270 sophomore) and Curtis Jones to allow their running game to find success. Tyvon Norfleet and Keyvon King each broke off runs of 10 yards or longer.

After a penalty, it's 1st & 5 from the Indian River 30 for the Tigers, who see QB Ethan Vasko scramble for 8 yards to move the chains. The Braves may have to bring an extra defender down in the box, but the risk of that is the play-action pass opens and can turn into a long gainer or a touchdown.

 

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A very workmanlike drive for the Tigers as the 1-2 punch of junior Tyvon Norfleet and sophomore Keyvon King has combined for 69 yards rushing already.

Oscar Smith kicks off from the Indian River 45-yard line due to a 15-yard penalty on the Braves during the point after try by the Tigers. Thought Chris Scott might onside again, but he decides to kick it deep and the Braves are stopped immediately.

With 2:14 to go in the first quarter, Indian River starts its third series from their own 10.

 

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Another 3 & out for the Indian River offense. It's Malcolm Britt, the ODU commit, and Maurice Freeman stopping Tony Highter for a loss of 1. Then on second down, Jah'Ke Hilliard collapses the pocket and Zakai Minggia is sacked. Their pass down the field on third down for LaMareon James is incomplete.

Thad Blackburn punts from his own end zone and it is downed at the 26-yard line of Oscar Smith, giving the Tigers prime field position to strike again with 40.8 seconds left in the opening quarter.

 

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A pretty dominant opening quarter for the TIgers.

Play has briefly stopped due to a drone flying overhead of the field. It is a violation of VHSL policy, so the officials are probably telling both teams about it until the individual operating it - whoever that is - makes the object disappear.

 

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The Oscar Smith offensive line is creating excellent running room, and that time it was a pure run of power by the 5-6, 200 pound junior Richardson. The Braves didn't wrap him up on that one.

We'll point out that Braves star DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, the Florida commit who was expected to return today from injury, is sidelined and not suited up to play today. Powell-Ryland, who was recovering from shoulder surgery in the off-season, hurt his shoulder in the season-opening loss to Northeastern (NC).

The Braves need some kind of spark, perhaps on special teams, to get back in this one.

 

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Another onside kick by Oscar Smith Coach Chris Scott and the Tigers nearly recover, in fact, appeared to get the ball. However, the officials say that Indian River got it and they will begin at the Smith 48 for their fourth series with 10:24 before half-time.

 

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Indian River needed that in the worst of ways as their passing game has gone nowhere. In fact, following the gain of 12 by Highter, they run for 3 with Braylon Payne, where he is met right away by ODU commit Malcolm Britt. Then on 2nd & 7, it's junior Marvin 'Trey' Duke with an enormous stick on LaMareon James.

After the tackle for loss, Oscar Smith got hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. They have 7 flags for 55 yards thus far.

 

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Field goal try coming for Indian River's Thaddeus Blackburn.

 

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Even though Indian River would've rather had 7 points instead of 3, they'll take it to give them some confidence here as we pass the midway point of the second quarter. Their defense will have to get a stop though after the Tigers have started to get things going offensively.

 

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You think back to Deangelo White's memorable punt return for a touchdown with under a minute to play that lifted the Tigers to a 15-14 win over Indian River 2015 at Hickory High. Also just two years ago, it was Shy'keem Hussey on this very field returning a punt for a score.

The Tigers strike on special teams again.

Indian River is in a world of hurt.

 

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Indian River goes 3 & out after starting at their own 15 for their fifth possession of the day. That series took only 54 seconds and nearly ended with an INT as Zakai Minggia's pass was way off the mark and Ricky Walker of Oscar Smith was in the vicinity.

Minggia is having a rough day after enjoying a career performance last week against Nansemond River. He's 3 of 9 for minus 7 yards passing.

Romon Copeland fair catches the punt at the Indian River 45-yard line as the Tigers have outstanding field position yet again.

At the rate we're going, this standing room only crowd might head for the exits earlier today than they anticipated.

 

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Indian River tries to get the running game ignited with Tyrell Spruill, the Navy commit, up the middle, but his two runs gain only a yard apiece. On 3rd & 8, a short completion to Cam Hunter nets just 5 yards. So Indian River punts it away on 4th & 3 from their own 22, probably wisely.

That's yet another series of a 3 & out for the Braves.

Oscar Smith has 16.2 seconds to work from their own 48 to try to increase their 21-3 lead.

 

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Some numbers to come shortly...

 

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Some numbers at the break...

Oscar Smith 21:
Ethan Vasko - 3-6 for 45Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio; 5Car. 31Yds.
Tyvon Norfleet - 8Car. 52Yds. TD
Keyvon King - 5Car. 25Yds.
Justin George - 1Rec. 35Yds.
Raymond Hall - 1Rec. 10Yds.
Maurice Freeman - 6 Tackles, 1.5TFL

Tigers - 29 plays for 173 total yards (2-7 for 45 yards passing, 2 intercepts; 22 rushes for 128 yards); 2 turnovers; 8 penalties for 68 yards


Indian River 3:
Zakai Minggia - 4-10 for minus 2 yards passing, 0-1 TD/Int. ratio; 5Car. 4Yds.
Tony Highter - 4Car. 12Yds.
Cam Hunter - 1Rec. 5Yds; 2 Tackles, 0.5TFL
LaMareon James - 3Rec. Minus 7Yds; 3 Solo Tackles, FF
Joseph Jackson - 4 Solo Tackles
Najah Cuffee - 3 Solo Tackles, 2 INT's

Braves - 22 plays for 19 total yards (4-10 for minus 2 yards passing, 1 intercept, 12 rushes for 21 yards);t 1 turnover; 2 penalties for 20 yards

 

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Oscar Smith begins at their own 32 to get things underway in the second half. They don't waste any time attacking through the air with QB Ethan Vasko finding Romon Copeland for a 16-yard completion. Two plays later, it's Copeland deep on a 28-yard gain.



The Indian River defense, in a 3-4 alignment most of the day, was unable to get someone out to Copeland in coverage in the trips formation and he was completely wide open.

However, the drive ends on 4th & 1 when Cam Hunter and the Braves make a tackle.

So Indian River takes over at their own 14. Can the offense get some kind of spark and find a way to involve LaMareon James in space against this hard-hitting Tigers defense?

 

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Indian River goes 3 & out, punting it back to Oscar Smith, which will begin its second possession of the third quarter at their own 39 with 6:13 remaining in the period.

The Tigers are facing a 3rd & 9 from their own 40 after a tackle by Noah Wallace on Tyvon Norfleet for a yard and pass breakup by Braves OLB Ryan Pyles.

 

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Oscar Smith looking like it will move to 20-1 in their last 21 meetings with Indian River. While this rivalry has had some spice in recent years, the Tigers have made it one-sided.

 

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Haven't seen the Oscar Smith defense get burned for a big play like that all year, even the Highland Springs game when I think back to it from a few weeks ago. Now the question is can Indian River finish the drive off with a touchdown?

To make this a competitive fourth quarter, they'll have to score here.

 

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Well-executed play with Minggia finding Cam Hunter in the middle of the field. The Braves need a quick 3 & out to make things interesting or some kind of takeaway; they do have two of those on interceptions today.

Look for Oscar Smith to establish the run again much like they did towards the end of the opening period and start of the second quarter with the tandem of Keyvon King and Tyvon Norfleet.

King's 22-yard kickoff returns starts the Tigers at their own 43 with 3:12 left in the third period. It's their third possession of the half.

 

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Oscar Smith's ground game is getting stuffed by the likes of Noah Wallace, Ryan Pyles and Cameron Hunter up front. It puts them in a 3rd & 4 situation and then a 3rd & 9. The first one was converted thanks to a great tippy-toe catch by Raymond Hall on the roll-out pass from Ethan Vasko.

The Tigers are doing a nice job of getting Vasko rolled out, on the move, and away from the pass rush.

 

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Tigers facing 1st & 10 from the Indian River 20 to begin the fourth period after the third down conversion through the air from Vasko to Richardson.

 

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When the Braves needed to get off the field on this humid, final Saturday for the month of September, they were unable to do so and that touchdown was probably the dagger.

Some of the fans are starting to get an early jump on the traffic, and probably get themselves a good seat for the 3:30 PM kick-off between Top 20 programs in College Football taking place in South Bend between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Virginia Cavaliers.

 

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A running into the kicker penalty with Indian River punting from their own end zone will give the Braves a fresh set of downs at their own 22. But the drive stalls again as Deshawn Sears makes a sack on 2nd down, followed by a tackle from Maurice Freeman (he's got about 8 or 9 stops) on the scramble from QB Zakai Minggia.

Oscar Smith's fourth possession of this second half will commence at their own 47-yard line with 6:20 left in the ballgame. The Tigers lead it comfortably by a 35-10 margin.

 

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Tigers QB Ethan Vasko was extremely sharp in the third period, but just had three straight incomplete passes - with a 5-yard run from sophomore Keyvon King sandwiched in - as Oscar Smith turns it over on downs.

Indian River takes over at their own 48-yard line with 5:24 to play. Tyrell Spruill and Braylon Payne make back-to-back catches for no gain. Maurice Freeman, the hard-hitting OLB/S for Oscar Smith, checks out after what appeared to be a minor injury. He's got 8 stops or so today.

Jah'Ke Hilliard comes up with another sack, his second of the day for the junior defensive lineman, and Indian River will be punting it away.

 

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A lot to like about this 6-foot-3, 190-pound triggerman for the Tigers that arrived in the summer from Currituck HS in North Carolina. Sure, he's made a couple of mistakes, but his grasp and command of the offense is noticeable along with pretty good instincts all things considered.

The Indian River defense didn't come flying up field and he patiently let that scramble develop as he glided his way in for six points.

 

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More to come later...