Freshman QB Simms Rocks Hornets in Blowout
The hype was there before kickoff, as the "game of the year" was set to take place at Deep Creek. The Hornets were fired us as top ranked Oscar Smith walked onto the field. While the Hornets jumped up and down, the Tigers held hands and stretched from sideline to sideline as they made they way to midfield. The intensity was undeniable. A sense of expectancy hung in the air. The drama ended quickly.
With their star quarterback Dexter Meritt still sidelined with a knee injury, Freshman Philip Simms proved his last two starts were no fluke. He drove the Tigers down the field on their first possession of the game for a TD pass to Todd Harrelson. Harrelson and Simms would hook up often in this contest, and Harrelson finshed with 8 catches for 121 yards and two scores. The Tigers had something to prove, and they played like it. A punishing defense held the mighty Hornets to -18 yards of total offense and Simms passed for 4 scores and 262 yards in a 35-0 blowout. The final TD from Sims to Kerry Boykins (his 2nd on the day), came with over 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. The running clock and a classy Coach Morgan kept the game this close. Oscar Smith could have scored 60 if they wanted, as the Tiger ran their regular season unbeaten streak to 31 games.
That leaves Oscar Smith and Salem as the lone unbeatens in the Eastern Region. They won't play until the playoffs, and one of those teams is sure to represent Hampton Roads in the State Championship. On this day, Oscar Smith came out to show that no one can catch these Tigers by the tail.
