For the eighth time in program history, Oscar Smith is headed to the VHSL State Football Championship game, winning a thrilling State Semifinal clash with previously unbeaten Massaponax, 21-14, on the final Saturday of April 2021.
Oscar Smith puts its unblemished record on the line on May 1st against the last team to beat them on the gridiron, the South County Stallions.
Watch Postgame Video Interviews with Coach Chris Scott of the Tigers as well as two of the standout performers from the victory in the State Semis, junior wide receiver Amonte Jones and senior linebacker Tae'Ron Richardson, below...
Video Interview with Oscar Smith Coach Chris Scott:
Oscar Smith Head Football Coach Chris Scott chats with VirginiaPreps.com's Matthew Hatfield following his team's 21-14 win over Massaponax in the VHSL Class 6 State Semis.
It was the first time that Oscar Smith trailed during the 2020-21 campaign. They quickly erased the 7-0 deficit and took a 21-14 lead before the half. Both teams came in averaging over 50 points per game, but the defenses controlled the flow in a scoreless second half.
The Tigers moved 8-0 overall on the season and 21-2 in two seasons under Scott, who led Ocean Lakes to a State Championship in 2014.
Oscar Smith now plays host to South County (9-0), a 29-22 come-from-behind winner Madison in the State Semis, for the Class 6 State Championship at May 1st at Beard-De-Long Easley Field in Chesapeake.
South County beat Oscar Smith 14-13 for the Class 6 State Championship in December of 2019. Oscar Smith hasn't won a state title since 2011 as the Tigers have dropped their last five games in the final round of the postseason, including to Centreville in 2013 and three straight years to Westfield from 2015-17.
Video Interview with Oscar Smith WR Amonte Jones:
Oscar Smith Class of 2022 WR Amonte Jones chats with VirginiaPreps.com's Matthew Hatfield following his team's thrilling 21-14 triumph over Massaponax in the VHSL Class 6 State Football Semis on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Jones, who recently picked up an offer from Maryland, had 7 receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
Oscar Smith rallied from an early deficit, their first of the season. The Tigers upped their record to 8-0 overall. They next play host to South County, the team that beat them in the 2019 Class 6 State Championship.
Oscar Smith, which has lost its five appearances in the State Finals, tries to bring the program its first state title in 10 years.
Video Interview with Oscar Smith LB Tae'Ron Richardson:
Oscar Smith senior linebacker Tae'Ron Richardson chats with VirginiaPreps.com's Matthew Hatfield after his team's 21-14 victory over Massaponax in the VHSL Class 6 State Football Semifinals on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Richardson had a team-high 10 total tackles, four solo, and the game-clinching interception in the final seconds to preserve the victory for Oscar Smith, which is making its eight trip in the State Championship game in 13 seasons.
The Tigers will next take on South County, which beat them in the most recent State Championship, for the Class 6 crown on Saturday, May 1st at Beard-DeLong-Easley Field in Chesapeake.
Oscar Smith seeks its first state title since 2011 after falling short in the title game each of the previous five appearances.
Matthew Hatfield serves as Publisher for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network, and is a regular contributor to the ACC Sports Journal. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates, and you can also read his work in the Suffolk News Herald. To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and don’t forget to listen to him from 10 AM to Noon on 757 Saturday Sports Talk on ESPN Radio 94.1.
