For the fourth time in eight seasons, the Oscar Smith Tigers earned their way into the state championship game, this time by virtue of a 21-3 slugfest win over the Thomas Dale Knights from Richmond in a state semifinal contest at home.
The scoring was slow and the action light in the first quarter, but two lightning strikes from the Tigers in the second quarter opened up the gap between the two teams and the Smith defense made their advantage stand throughout the second half.
Oscar Smith will move into the state title game carrying a 13-0 record to square off with a Westfield Bulldogs program who enters with a 13-1 mark. The contest will be played in Charlottesville's Scott Stadium on the grounds of the University of Virginia on Saturday afternoon.
**Click here to see 401 images from the contest** (coming soon)
SCORING SUMMARY
TEAM TIME SCORING PLAY GAME SCORE
TD 4:31 (1) FG Eliades 33 yards 3-0
OS 10:39 (2) Mitchell to Chapel 30 yards, PAT Luster 7-3
OS 6:12 (2) Mitchell to Todd 15 yards, PAT Luster 14-3
OS 7:38 (4) Johnson 43 yards, PAT Luster 21-3
KEYS TO VICTORY
FLIP THE FIELD
The Thomas Dale defense had their way with the Oscar Smith offense forcing two three-and-punt series from the Tigers who won the coin flip and opted to start the game with the ball.
On their second possession of the game, starting at the Oscar Smith 45-yard line, the Knights cracked open the scoring in the contest using their strong running game and a slant pattern to wideout Brian Bullock to move the ball deep into the Tigers' red zone before a false start on fourth-and-two slowed their momentum. Senior kicker Plato Eliades split the uprights from 33 yards out to put Dale on the board first.
Though Oscar Smith found no scoring success on their ensuing possession, they drove the ball to midfield before punting, thus getting out of their own end of the field for the first time in the contest. A defensive stop by the defense forced another Thomas Dale punt and the Tigers' offense would open the second quarter with the ball on their own 25-yard line, still in their own end of the field but in a workable situation.
GET IN THE GROOVE
After struggling through the first twelve minutes, the Smith offense starting clicking in the second as Mitchell hit one screen pass and a quick hitter, then Courtney Johnson ran the ball to the Thomas Dale 30-yard line as Smith was pressing the Knights for the first time in the game. On the next play, quarterback Shon Mitchell found Larry Chapel on a post route behind the secondary for a 30-yard score and the Cam Luster extra point made it 7-3 just over a minute into the second.
The Smith defense stiffened on the next Thomas Dale drive forcing a punt after the Knights made their way to their own 31-yard line.
Starting from near midfield, the Tigers hit a huge play up the seam as Mitchell found a streaking Chapel for a 43-yard gain as the outstretched junior made a pretty, diving catch as the Dale 15. One play later, Mitchell lofted a pass to Kevin Todd in the end zone on a corner route and the senior's catch helped make it 14-3 Oscar Smith halfway through the period.
Thomas Dale drove to midfield on their next drive but fumbled the ball back to Oscar Smith on a muffed handoff where defensive end Wilfred Long was the first to the ball.
Attempting to add another score before the break, Smith worked their way into the Dale red zone, but shto themselves in the foot with a pair of holding penalties, an offensive pass interference and a delay of game, ending the drive with a turnover on downs.
LOCK IT UP
Thomas Dale opened the second half with the ball and quickly threatened to make the game more interesting driving to the Smith 29-yard line, but a mishandled snap on fourth-and-five led to a recovered fumble by Dominique Jordan.
The Knights thought that they got their biggest play in the game when lineback Wayne Brown intercepted an Oscar Smith and returned it for a touchdown, but a block-in-the-back penalty brought the ball back out near the Smith 40. Two plays later, the Knights fumbled the ball back to Smith while on the Tigers' 35.
After a Smith punt, Thomas Dale got back into Tigers' territory but, on a third-and-six from Wildcat formation, the Knights took a shot up the seam, but cornerback Deangelo White picked off the pass handing the ball back to the offense.
Hoping to eat up clock, Smith stuck with their ground game driving past midfield, but got their third big play of the day when Johnson broke through the right side of the line and dashed 43 yards to the end zone for the game's final score giving his team a 21-3 lead with just over seven minutes to play.
**Click here for postgame audio with Oscar Smith head coach Rich Morgan**
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
OSCAR SMITH DEFENSE
Along with giving up zero touchdowns on the day, the Smith defense limited a strong Thomas Dale rushing attack to just 111 yards on 28 attempts on the ground and the Tigers forced four turnovers in the contest.
LARRY CHAPEL
The junior wide receiver hauled in nine passes for 148 yards and the game's first touchdown while adding a big 43-yard catch to help set up the Tigers' second score. Time and time again, Chapel was able to beat the Knights defenders in man-to-man coverage to keep Smith's drives moving.
SHON MITCHELL
For the second time in his three-year career, the junior quarterback is carrying his team into the state championship game as he conencted on 16 of 25 passes for 238 yards and one touchdown in the contest.
Football Editor Rod Johnson is entering his second decade with www.VirginiaPreps.com having started with the site in 2003. To keep up with all the high school football news in Virginia, follow him on Twitter or find him on Facebook. He can also be contacted via e-mail at vaprepsrod@cox.net.
