Hampton Roads Game of Week #15: Oscar Smith Moves to 6A State Title Game With 27-20 Win Over Colonial Forge: Mitchell's Record Breaking TD Pass Comes with 10 Seconds Left in Game

As seen on recruit757.com:

Shon Mitchell sets a new record with his final pass of the day and the Tigers move on

by Jim McGrath, recruit757

OSCAR SMITH 27, COLONIAL FORGE 20

For Shon Mitchell, his 6A state semifinal game story could not have been better if a Hollywood screenwriter had penned it.

With 16 seconds left in a game tied at 20, Mitchell dropped back to pass from the Eagle 22, looked to his right and saw receiver Khalik Perry three yards behind his defender and angling toward the bright orange pylon in the back of the end zone. Mitchell’s arching pass found Perry, who caught the ball and fell backwards, securing the game winning touchdown, as Oscar Smith scored the game’s last 14 points to pull out a 27-20 win over Colonial Forge.

With the win, Oscar Smith will now face Westfield, from Chantilly, in next week’s 6A state championship, which will be played next Saturday at Armstrong Stadium on the campus of Hampton University. The Bulldogs defeated the Tigers 49-42 in last year’s title game, one which took three overtimes to decide. That game broke a perfect 13-0 season for Oscar Smith, and was followed by the departure of then-Coach Richard Morgan.

The game-winning play was set up by a Colonial Forge fumble with just over a minute left, a ball that was buried under a sea of players at the Eagle 40 before being awarded to the Tigers. On the third play, Mitchell found Perry over the middle for a 18-yard gain, to put the ball at the 22 and set up the climatic ending.

For Mitchell, his final pass of the day was historic. With his 120th career passing touchdown, the William and Mary-bound senior passed former Tiger Phillip Sims for the all-time Virginia state prep record. With the win, he will have a chance to add to the total next week, as Oscar Smith will play one more game, a state title rematch with Westfield, who earned their spot with an easy 42-12 win over South Lakes.

Storybook ending? After the game, Mitchell was asked to describe his feeling about the perfection of the finale. “Awesome,” quipped the mindful signal caller. “That’s the only word to describe it.”

It wasn’t awesome in the beginning.

There was the first quarter interception of Mitchell by Josh Sarratt, which occurred on a play from the Tiger 5 and led to Colonial Forge’s second touchdown, one which gave them a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter. There were the three other passes that landed right in the hands of Eagle defenders, only to be dropped. There was the interception to open the second half, as Sarratt once again picked off Mitchell, and returned the ball to the 12, resulting in a Jadon Redding field goal to bump the Forge lead to 20-14, and stifle the bit of momentum the Tigers had built before halftime when Keyon Watson’s two-yard touchdown burst closed the Eagle lead to 17-13.

In fact, for the first 47 minutes of the football game, the Tigers’ longest pass was the 39-yarder thrown by wide receiver Cam’Ron Kelly to Thomas Woodhouse to ignite a seven-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in Watson's touchdown.

“They were rushing three and dropping eight. That made it hard to find somebody open,” said Mitchell after the game. Speaking of the game-winning score to Perry, he noted, “All respect to Khalik on that one. He got open and made a great catch.” As far as the near interceptions went, he added, “You gotta have a short-term memory.”

Along with Perry, it was Woodhouse who made key plays. The senior receiver caught three passes for 71 yards, and the two combined for the game’s most notable special teams play. Punting from midfield, Perry blocked the Colonial Forge kick, which bounced sideways and was scooped up by Woodhouse, who scampered 40 yards for the Tigers first touchdown of the day.

“He balled it today,” said Mitchell.

Woodhouse was also diplomatic. Asked about his biggest play of the day, the senior receiver recalled another play, before talking about his teammate D’Angelo White, and then coach, Bill Dee.

“I felt for Deangelo,” said Woodhouse, talking about White, who carried four times for eight yards before leaving the game just before halftime with a knee injury. White, the Tigers leading rusher with over 1,100 yards, played in last week’s 13-0 win over Woodside, just one day after the passing of his father, and scored a crucial touchdown. “I lost my father just before last season, so I know what he’s going through,” said Woodhouse.

His thoughts moved to Coach Dee, who is leading the Tigers to the state championship game in his first season at Oscar Smith, after a storied career at Phoebus where he won four 5A state titles with the Phantoms, and then moved to coaching positions at Christopher Newport, and Old Dominion, before returning to the high school ranks this year.

“We’re not used to playing from behind, but Coach always the says the game is not over. You have to trust the process. Coach Dee came here in his first year and instilled trust in us.”

Dee was less concerned about the outcome of the South Lakes-Westfield contest, at least for today.

“I was worried about this one today. We fought to the bitter end,” said Dee who has now won 256 games at the high school ranks and will be traveling to a familiar site next Saturday, Armstrong Stadium, for next week’s state championship. “Our guys have been in these battles, and just don’t quit.

Asked if Dee’s four state titles might help the Tigers against Westfield, the team that beat them in last year’s final, Woodhouse managed a smile, one that was deserved after a hard day on the field.

“It helps.”

– Jim McGrath

COLONIAL FORGE 14, 3, 3, 0 — 20
OSCAR SMITH 7, 6, 7, 7 — 27

1st Quarter
CF – Barnum 2 run (Redding kick)
OS – Woodhouse 40 return on blocked punt (Benoit kick)
CF – Roberts 19 pass from Barnum (Redding kick)

2nd Quarter
CF – Redding 37 FG
OS – Watson 2 run (kick failed)

3rd Quarter
CF – Redding 21 FG
OS – Artis 8 run (Benoit kick)

4th Quarter
OS – Perry 22 pass from S. Mitchell (Benoit kick)

                       CF OS
First downs; 14, 13
Rushes-yards; 36-76, 26-53
Passing yards; 128, 215
Comp-att-int; 11-21-2, 15-32-2
Penalties-yards; 3-20, 10-73
Punts-avg; 4-30.7, 5-34.0
Fumbles-lost; 3-1, 1-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: Rushing: Colonial Forge-Antonio McCray 15-57, Kenard McNeal 3-6, Ernesto Bowen 3-5, Liam Kauthen 1-2, Omaro Barnum 1-2, TD, Ethan Garwood 9- (-1), Josh Sarratt 3-5. Total 36 for 76. Oscar Smith – Keyon Watson 14-26, TD; Thomas Woodhouse 2-10, Keshon Artis 3-12, TD; DeAngelo White 4-8; Shon Mitchell 3-(minus 3). Total 26 for 53. Passing: Colonial Forge – Garwood 10-20-2, 109 yards, 2 INT; Barnum 1-1-0, 19 yards, TD. Oscar Smith – Mitchell 14-31-2, 176 yards, TD, 2 INT; CamRon Kelly 1-1-0, 39 yards. Receiving: Colonial Forge – Mark Roberts 4-62, TD; Mitchell Shinskie 1-19; Kareem Burgess 2-17; Zack Kindel 1-14; Sarratt 2-12; McCray 1-4. Oscar Smith – Woodhouse 3-71; Khalik Perry 4-73, TD; Watson 3-38; Kelly 4-30; White 1-3.