Tigers Fulfill A Promise To Fallen Teammate
The Oscar Smith Tigers Get Ready To Storm The Field As The Game Clock Winds Down. They Fulfilled A Promise To Their Fallen Teammate Lonnie Andrews Who Was Tragically Killed This Past Summer....
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine
The Tigers Rolled In The First Half To A 34-0 Lead Over Osbourn. They Won Their First State Championship 54-24 In School History behind 4 touchdown catches from Tim Smith, a VHSL record.
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine
BLACKSBURG, VA - Last year's Oscar Smith team was nearly unbeatable. They had 4 Division 1A receivers, a star on the rise at quarterback in Phillip Sims, and a suffocating defense led by Jerod Askew and Perry Jones. There was talent at every position, including at tailback.
The Tigers trusted their running game with a senior named Lonnie Andrews. He was quick and fast, and one most liked guys on the team. With one game left to win to make their first appearance in a state title game, the Tigers fell short to the eventual champion Westfield.
It was a devastating loss to everyone on the team, and the disappointment lingered all throughout the off-season. Then the unspeakable happened. During the summer, the popular Andrews was shot and killed.
His death shook every one of his teammates to the core. Their buddy, their teammate was gone.
At his funeral, a distraught group of young men decided to make a promise to their fallen friend. They would finish the 2008 season as champions for Lonnie, and they would honor him throughout the entire journey.
One of Lonnie's best friends on the team was receiver Tim Smith. The two were close, and his death was difficult for Smith to handle.
However, Smith decided that if he could do anything for his friend, it would be to play with great passion every chance he had this year.
All year long, Smith made play after play for his team, and along the way he etched his legacy in stone in the record books as well. This past Saturday, the future UVA Cavalier set a VHSL record for touchdown catches in a game with 4, and more importantly helped his team fulfill their promise to Andrews.
"When my best friend Lonnie died, it was something we got out here and worked hard for," Smith said. "We played for him, we do everything for him and this championship is for him."
When his teammates stormed the field, the championship game MVP didn't join them at first. He ran toward the sideline to grab Lonnie's jersey, something he has done after every win.
Smith held up the #26 jersey to thousands in attendance, and then he looked up to the sky and smiled.
"He always played with so much passion and drive," Smith said. "He wanted to win the state championship but he didn't have the chance to. We had the opportunity tonight and we made the best of it."
Smith and the Tigers became the second team in the history of the VHSL to finish a perfect 15-0, and they did so with a heavy heart.
Head Coach Richard Morgan couldn't say enough about how his team played, and he said he was glad they could do what they promised Andrews.
"He was definitely here tonight," Morgan said. "We love him and we miss him. We are always going to remember him."
Oscar Smith Principle Paul Joseph echoed Morgan's comments.
"Lonnie is here with us tonight, and he has been with us all year long," Joseph said.
With their fallen teammate watching from above, the Tigers put together a dominating performance. Quarterback Phillip Sims threw for 6 touchdowns and set a VHSL record in doing so for the most touchdowns thrown in a championship game.
The Tigers dismantled Osbourn 54-24 to win their first state championship in any sport, but after watching Morgan's team, it is easy to see this program will be back in the near future.
And with #26 along their side, it might just be next year.
On behalf of the Gameday staff, we would like to congratulate Oscar Smith on a great championship season. You guys did it with class and dignity and you deserve to be called champions.
