by Jim McGrath, recruit757WESTFIELD 34, OSCAR SMITH 28 (2 OT)
HAMPTON – Mirroring last year’s instant classic, the rematch of the 6A state football championship between Westfield and Oscar Smith was every bit as exciting as last year. And when the Tigers’ Deangelo White’s carry on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line was thwarted by nose tackle Nauz Calhoun just short of the goal line in the second overtime, it was the Bulldogs who emerged as the repeating state champions 34-28.
The game was Westfield’s to lose as they entered the fourth quarter with a 21-7 lead. Yet, VHSL all-time passing touchdown leader Shon Mitchell brought the Tigers back – first, with a 33-yard scoring pass to Khalik Perry, followed by Mitchell, who finished a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard sneak into the end zone with seven seconds remaining in regulation.
Since Oscar Smith had missed the previous extra point, the Tigers had to convert a two-point conversion to complete the tie. With the game on the line, Mitchell pitched to White who swept left and dove into the end zone, ensuring the overtime.
“We didn’t want overtime,” said Mitchell (17-30, 320 yds. 3 TD). We had caught momentum and wanted to beat them in regulation. But they are tough. That’s the type of team that gets punched in the mouth and punches right back.”
Oscar Smith’s Cam’Ron Kelly and Westfield’s Nathaniel Chung exchanged touchdowns in the first overtime, setting up the climatic finish.
After two incompletions from the ten-yard line, Westfield quarterback Rehman Johnson (14-26, 221 yards, 4 TD, INT) found Ivory Frimpong in the back corner of the end zone, and the senior receiver stayed inbounds to give the Bulldogs a 34-28 lead.
With their final possession, Mitchell handed off to White for four yards, and then was dropped for no gain as he tried to find an open receiver. The Tigers received a false start penalty, and then fumbled on the next play, with only a savvy save by Keyon Watson ensuring just a one-yard loss. Mitchell had to scramble again on the next play, but rushed to the left sideline and picked up eight yards to set up the game-deciding play.
With the win, Westfield (13-2) earned its second consecutive state title and fourth in school history. Oscar Smith (13-2) made it to the state final in its first season under Coach Bill Dee, who came to the Tigers after amassing 243 wins at Southampton and Phoebus, along with four 5A state titles as the Phantoms’ coach, before entering the college ranks for several years and returning to the prep sidelines.
For the Bulldogs, a gain in confidence after starting the season 4-2, helped fuel their championship run.
Said Johnson, “Coach (Simmons) gave me the confidence to run our plays and the trust for me to throw the ball. He realized our talent and potential and opened up the playbook.”
Added Simmons, “I liked to think that we were crescendo-ing. We had adversity in the midseason, but this was a sign of how far we have come.”
Mitchell, who at times had trouble deciphering Colonial Forge’s defense last weekend, combined with Thomas Woodhouse in the game’s opening minute to make a strong statement. Mitchell found Woodhouse on an underneath route, and the senior receiver took the ball the rest of the way to the end zone to complete a 69-yard touchdown pass. Austin Benoit’s extra point gave the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.
Mitchell completed seven of nine passes in the first quarter, and was successful at finding gaps in the Bulldog defense. But, like Colonial Forge last week, the Bulldogs began to drop eight defenders against the pass.
“They ran an inverted Cover-2 where the safety goes over to help,” said Mitchell, who will be playing for William and Mary next year. “But there’s no excuse. We had the momentum.”
However, Westfield was just getting warmed up. With Johnson under center, the Bulldogs are known for their ability to hold on to the ball. Their offense had sporadic spells earlier in the season, but Westfield hit all of their cylinders last week in a 42-12 thrashing of South Lakes in the 6A North Region final.
After Woodhouse’s touchdown, Johnson went to work, completing a seven-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that chewed up a mere 1:16 off the clock and culminated with Johnson finding tight end Nolan Cockrill open in the end zone for a seven-yard score, evening the score at seven, which is how the opening quarter ended.
Mitchell’s ability to find open receivers ceased in the second quarter as the large defensive front of the Bulldogs found their way through the Tiger line and sacked him for a pair of losses. He managed to complete just two of six passes for the rest of the half.
Meanwhile, Westfield was continuing its methodical roll. Johnson found Sean Eckert open in the right corner of the end zone after a down-and-out route. His six-yard TD put Westfield ahead 14-7 at the half.
The Dogs carried their momentum into the second half, cobbling together an eight-play, 71-yard drive, that ended with Chung finding the end zone on a four-yard run.
Shon Mitchell finished his prep career with 123 touchdown passes to extend his Virginia state record. He also will finish as the all-time state leader for completions and yardage.
– Jim McGrath
WESTFIELD 7, 7, 7, 0, 7, 6 — 34
OSCAR SMITH 7, 0, 0, 14, 7,0 — 28
1st Quarter
OS – Woodhouse 69 pass from Mitchell (Benoit kick)
WF – Cockrill 7 pass (Delaney kick)
2nd Quarter
WF – Eckert 6 pass from R. Johnson (Delaney kick)
3rd Quarter
WF – Chung 4 run (Delaney kick)
4th Quarter
OS – Perry 33 pass from Mitchell (kick failed)
OS – Mitchell 2 run (White run)
Overtime
OS – Kelly 10 pass from Mitchell (Benoit kick)
WF – Cockrill 6 pass from R. Johnson (Delaney kick)
2nd Overtime
OS – Frimpong 10 pass from R. Johnson (kick failed)
WF OS
First downs; 15, 14
Rushes-yards; 35-115, 35-85
Passing yards; 221, 320
Comp-att-int; 14-26-1, 17-30-0
Penalties-yards; 5-43, 10-87
Punts-avg; 5-36.6, 5-44.6
Fumbles-lost; 2-0, 2-0
Time of possession; 34:36, 37:24
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: Rushing: Westfield – Nathaniel Chung 17-46, Rehman Johnson 8-37, Nolan Cockrill 4-19, Matt Cirillo 3-11, Sean Eckert 2- (-2). Total 35 for 120. Oscar Smith – Deangelo White 13-43, Shon Mitchell 15-23, Keyon Watson 5-11, Khalik Perry 1-5, Keshon Artis 1-3. Total 35 for 125. Passing: Westfield – R. Johnson 14-26, 221 yds. 4 TD, INT. Oscar Smith – S. Mitchell 17-30, 320 yds. 3 TD. Receiving: Westfield – Ivory Frimpong 5-95, TD; Eckert 3-29, TD; Cockrill 3-23, 2 TD; Kevin Petrillo 2-62, Cirillo 1-12. Oscar Smith – Perry 8-139, TD, CamRon Kelly 4-73, TD; White 3-29, Thomas Woodhouse 2-79, TD.
No comments:
Post a Comment