The Point After: The Shoe Fits For Cinderella
Nobody would have projected that Osbourn would be playing for all of the marbles this week after their 2-3 start to the 2008 season. After their impressive win against Varina on Saturday, Osbourn could be considered the favorite this week in the title game against nationally ranked Oscar Smith....
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Osbourn Head Coach Steve Schultze has done one of the great coaching jobs of the 2008 season. His Eagles were 2-3 at one point, and now they are one win away from a state championship.
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Senior Jerell McFadden is a major reason why Osbourn is in the state championship game. His 5 touchdown performance on Saturday against Varina led the Eagles past their 3rd straight undefeated opponent. They will play Oscar Smith on Saturday for the Championship.
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MANASSAS, VA - We entered last weekend's state semifinal action with 5 teams from Northern Virginia still in contention for a state championship. After Saturday, we are down to two, and one of the two teams left standing could be considered the Cinderella story of the 2008 football season.
With that being said, they shouldn't have been considered long shots based on their talent level, and their coaching. The Osbourn Eagles have already claimed a state title in the last two years, and don't look now, but they very well could be the favorite in the minds of many heading into this weekend's showdown with nationally ranked Oscar Smith.
After a 2-3 start, they were not supposed to be making travel plans to Blacksburg this week. Yet, after some impressive wins down the stretch of the regular season, the Eagles have put together three straight wins over undefeated teams in Battlefield, Woodbridge, and Varina.
We call it "The Road To Glory", and if Osbourn knocks off an undefeated Oscar Smith (14-0) Saturday, that road might be the toughest ever conquered by any team.
The Eagles get it done with speed and toughness, and with a guy by the named of Jerell McFadden toting the rock. McFadden is one of the seniors on this year's Osbourn team that played a big role in the 2006 championship season as a sophomore.
I broadcast that game on that December day, and as impressive as Brandon Hogan (WVU) was with his 6 touchdowns against Chantilly, I walked away from the stadium thinking Osbourn could be back soon with the young players like McFadden they had on the roster.
On Saturday, McFadden proved my feelings right, rushing for 4 touchdowns, while catching another, and he also had an interception on defense to help Osbourn beat Varina 47-28. In 2006, Hogan was the most dominant player in the state, and he practically took over every game. McFadden has been doing the same thing for the Eagles in 2008.
As coaches say often, big time players make big time plays in big games, and McFadden is a big time player. Just like in 2006, the Eagles have a dominant senior leading the way, but the future again looks bright as Thomas and Timmy Keith have emerged as the next great Eagle players.
Thomas is a junior quarterback, and Timmy is his favorite target in the passing game, and is just a sophomore. Both can break the game wide open at any time with their speed, and they are a perfect compliment to the elusive McFadden.
With offensive firepower, Osbourn's defense gets overlooked, but they shouldn't. They have held in check some of the state's best prospects in recent weeks, including DeAntwan Williams from Woodbridge.
Amarciel Roy and Chaz Bates are two names you hear often on the Gameday Radio Network when we call an Osbourn game. Roy, 5'11 and 236 lbs, is a force from his defensive end position, and Bates is tenacious at linebacker. Bates had a big interception on Saturday to help seal the win for the Eagles.
The chore gets a little tougher this week for that Eagle defense as they will face Oscar Smith's Phillip Sims and Tim Smith. Smith, one of the fastest receivers in the state, is already committed to play for UVA. Every college in the country will be after Sims this spring, as he is just a junior quarterback for the Tigers.
But who can doubt the Eagles now after what they have done over the last month? I can't, and it would be wise for the Oscar Smith Tigers not to think they just played their toughest game last week against Oakton.
Back in the first few weeks of the season, I wrote a column titled "It's How You Finish That Matters." I think the Eagles might have read that, because they are finishing this season as well as anyone. We'll see if they can finish their Cinderella story with another Ring this Saturday at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The Gameday Radio Network will broadcast the Division 5 and Division 6 State Championship Games This Weekend In Blacksburg, Va with our live coverage beginning at 11:45am online here at GamedayMagazine.com.......
