Booker T. Tops Tigers 57-21
Advertisement
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>[rl]Tornadoes Storm Through Chesapeake:
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>In front of a nationally-televised audience on ESPNU
and a packed crowd at Beard-DeLong-Easley Field, the Booker T. Washington
Tornadoes out of Miami, Florida stormed the host Oscar Smith Tigers from
Chesapeake, Virginia by a count of 57-21 on Saturday night.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Ranked as high as #1 in the country a season ago,
Booker T. Washington showed why and just how lethal they are, scoring 34
unanswered points after falling behind 7-0.
As they extended their winning streak to 27 games, the Tornadoes went on
to pile up 538 total yards of offense on 59 plays.
style=> They also scored the final 23 points on the
evening to widen their advantage after Oscar Smith pulled within 13 at 34-21
late in the third quarter.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"I'm very proud of the kids' effort tonight, the way
that they stayed composed in every situation.
Even when they came back with those two late touchdowns and it looked
like they made the game close again, we stayed composed and were able to make a
big play to get that cushion again," declared Booker T. Washington first-year
Head Coach Tim Harris Jr. afterwards.
style=>
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"If we can continue to get better and make sure that we
use this game right here as a tool to show us all the areas that we have to
improve on to be a National Championship caliber team, I think we'll be just
fine in December."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The Tigers struck first when running back
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Deshawn McClease,
a three-star recruit committed to play his College Football at Virginia Tech,
capped off a masterful seven-play, 80-yard drive that took 2:41 off the clock
with a 16-yard touchdown reception from sophomore QB
normal'>Shon Mitchell.
class=SpellE>McClease was dominant in the first quarter with 114 total
yards. However, from there, the
Tornadoes keyed in on him and he would gain just 59 yards the rest of the
night, including two yards on six touchdowns in the second period.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Booker T. tied it up when junior halfback
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Mark Walton, a four-star recruit headed
to Miami (FL), broke free 67 yards for a touchdown on the Tornadoes' second play
from scrimmage. The Tigers held tough
the rest of the quarter with remaining tied at 7 entering the second period,
but Walton would find the end zone twice more before half-time to go up 20-7 at
intermission.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>To open the second half, the Tornadoes marched 0- yards
in seven plays with quarterback Maurice
Alexander, a Florida International commit and two-star recruit, connecting
with fellow senior Antonio Callaway
for a 53-yard touchdown pass. Oscar
Smith then committed the first of their second half turnovers when four-star
defensive back DaVante
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Davis forced a fumble that was
recovered by Hosea McMullin.
style=> Alexander found
normal'>Terry Jefferson for a short touchdown pass to push the deficit to
27 and the Tornadoes weren't done scoring.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"I feel like we're a streaky team offensively," Harris
stated. "They drove down too easy on our
defense that first series. We got really
frustrated with that, but after that I think our defense settled down and us
coming back scoring like that helped calm them down, too.
style=> When we get rolling, we're going to be really
hard to stop by anybody."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
Oscar Smith wouldn't throw in the towel, though.
style=> The Tigers battled back with a fourth down
reception from Anthony Elliott that
moved the chains and set up a McClease touchdown run,
his second of the night. Junior
linebacker Tavante
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Beckett blocked a punt and that led to
a 6-yard touchdown run from five-star recruit
normal'>Josh Sweat, who was used in a variety of ways throughout by lining
up at defensive end, linebacker, receiver and even
handled the punting duties.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Just when they got within two scores, the air went out
of the stadium on the Oscar Smith side as Booker T. got a 64-yard touchdown from
the combo of Alexander to Callaway again, followed by Alexander hitting
class=SpellE>Vaquan
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Smalls.
style=> Freshman defensive back
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Detron
normal'> Halloway got he last touchdown with 3:59
left in the fourth quarter when he picked off Mitchell and returned it 47
yards.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>For Booker T. Washington, it began their quest for a third
straight state title. They play Miami
Central, which beat Hoover (AL) 24-21 earlier in the day on ESPNU to end the
Bucs' 30-game winning streak, in two weeks.
Coach Harris believes the competition will benefit both his squad and
the Tigers moving forward.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"It's great exposure for both
programs," he said. "With High School
Sports and what High School Football has turned into, this is what all those
kids want to be apart of, nationally-televised games and being in an atmosphere
like this. When we pull up to the
stadium, the stands are almost full and it's packed already.
style=> It was very big for us and we're going to use
it as a stepping stone."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
mso-highlight:yellow'>Triplets:
There have been a lot of great offensive trios in football.
style=> At the pro ranks, you can think of many like
the San Francisco 49ers' with Joe Montana, Roger Craig and Jerry Rice for
example or a more modern day case would be the St. Louis Rams' Greatest Show on
Turf that featured Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Booker T. Washington had its form of the triplets with
Alexander, Walton and Callaway, each putting up serious numbers.
style=> So dominant that the Tornadoes' 57 points
were more than what Oscar Smith's defense surrendered the entire regular season
in 2013. That was 54 points in ten
games. Also not bad for an offense that
had to replace a three-year starting quarterback that's now playing for the
Florida Gators and three receivers that were three-year starters.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"Those three guys right there are a big part of the
offense. We have so many talented guys
overall on our offense, but tonight those were the guys that stepped up and our
three senior guys. I look for that from
them every week, rising to the occasion when we need big plays," Harris said.
style=>
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"We have so many different formations where teams play
us differently and they force us for other guys to step up and it'll be their
night. The biggest thing for our whole
offensive group aside from those three guys is the way that everybody plays
together and accepts whose night it may be that particular night."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Making his first start, the transfer Alexander completed
22 of 25 passes for 265 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.
style=> He was sacked only twice the whole night and
fired just one incomplete pass in the first half.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Walton mixed up his elusiveness with some patience and
power, rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts.
style=> His 119 yards and two scores on the ground
proved to be a great complement to what the passing game was doing and
countered McClease's stellar play on the other side.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>An uncommitted three-star recruit with over a dozen
offers, Callaway hauled in 10 balls for 233 yards and two touchdowns.
style=> Not only did he have big-play scores running
by guys, but he made a terrific leaping catch to set up another and converted a
couple of crucial third downs to extend drives.
line-break'>
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"With so many new guys, it can be very difficult, but
the kids bought into the system, didn't really fight us when it came to how
much time we had to put in at practice and in the film work.
style=> I think tonight showed that we made great
progress, but we still have a ways to go."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
mso-highlight:yellow'>Unfamiliar Territory for Tigers:
style=> Much of their 2014 season opener the
Oscar Smith Tigers would probably like to forget.
style=> The 57 points allowed marked the most they've
given up sine allowing 58 to Western Branch in 2002, which also was the last
time they suffered a running clock loss at home.
style=> That was Morgan's first year at the helm.
style=> Defensively, they failed to come up with a
takeaway.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>For the eighth time since 2009, the Tigers turned it
over three or more times and lost. Oscar
Smith had a Time of Possession advantage (26:27 to 21:33), but converted just 4
of 12 on third down and 1 of 4 on fourth down.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>There were some promising moments, though and the
two-time Virginia State Champs nearly went to half-time within one score of the
reigning National Champs, something very few programs could say.
style=> They also drew the respect of their Florida
opposition.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"I thought they were a very physical football
team. You see a lot of great athletes on
the field and have the guys like Sweat, McClease at
running back, the quarterback (Mitchell) is a great player," Harris commented.
style=>
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"I think the advantage that we felt we had from watching
film was that they played a lot of guys two ways,
especially big guys. With us not really
having to do that, we felt that we would be in good position if we speed up our
tempo, the offense stay on them, keep them off balanced and make them use
time-outs a little differently than they usually would."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Despite the lopsided loss, the Tigers remain the
favorite to win an 11th straight Southeastern District title when they resume play
on Saturday, September 13th against city rival Indian River.
style=> Oscar Smith entered the season ranked #2 in
Group 6A by VirginiaPreps.com behind the Centreville team that beat them for
the State Championship last December.
Look for them to be on the short list of contenders for that state title
when the playoffs roll around.
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
style='text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Postgame Audio with Booker T.
Washington (FL) Head Coach Tim Harris Jr.
href="https://www.facebook.com/virginiapreps.rodjohnson/media_set?set=a.754195277950036.1073741893.100000787114156&type=1">
style='text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Rod Johnson's Photo Gallery on
Facebook
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
Final Stats: ***
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Courtesy
of Mike Whittington & STATVA (www.statva.com)
***
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Booker
T. Washington (FL) Tornadoes 57:
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
Maurice Alexander - - 22-25 for 365Yds. 5-0TD/Int. ratio
Mark Walton - - 20Car. 163Yds. 2TD's; 1Rec. 8Yds. TD
Antonio Callaway - - 10Rec. 233Yds. 2TD's
Darius Scott - - 4Rec. 65Yds.
Vaquan Smalls - - 4Rec. 48Yds. TD
Hosea McMullin - - 9 Tackles (4 Solo); Fumble Recovery
Andre Duncombe - - 7 Tackles (1 Solo), TFL
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Oscar
Smith (VA) Tigers 21:
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
Shon Mitchell - - 14-27 for 166Yds. 1-2TD/Int. ratio
Deshawn McClease - - 24Car. 132Yds.
TD; 4Rec. 41Yds. TD
Josh Sweat - - 5Rec. 77Yds; 2Car. 13Yds. TD; 6 Tackles, 2TFL, Sack
Anthony Elliott - - 3Rec. 19Yds.
T.J. Green - - 11 Tackles (7 Solo), 3TFL, 2 Sacks
Tavante Beckett - - 7 Solo Tackles, TFL, FG Block,
Punt Block
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-decoration:none;text-underline:
none'>Matthew Hatfield
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>
href="http://www.virginiapreps.com">
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>VirginiaPreps.com
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>, part of the Rivals.com
href="https://www.twitter.com/hatfieldsports">
normal'>
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Hatfield's Twitter page
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> for more sports related updates,
href="http://www.suffolknewsherald.com">
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Suffolk News Herald
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>.
href="mailto:hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com">
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>, and don't forget to listen to him
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-decoration:none;text-underline:
none'>ESPN Radio 94.1
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>,
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-decoration:none;text-underline:
none'>Cox 11 Sports Report
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>.
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>