Tigers Knock Off Wolverines
Phil Sims had one touchdown pass to Charlie Ricks last night. Here he takes a knee and catches his breath as Woodside did a good job in the first half of putting pressure on the future crimson tide prospect...
Photo By Matt Nieman
Presented by Team Elite in Virginia Beach
By: Matt Aiton
The Oscar Smith Tigers of Chesapeake came away with a well deserved Eastern Region Title after Phil Sims, Charlie Ricks and a powerful Tiger defense eliminated the Woodside Wolverines with a score of 27-14. Oscar Smith showed why they were the number one seed in the region by making championship plays when they had to.
The game had a very defensive tone in the beginning. Woodside came out with a great defensive strategy and worked it to perfection in the opening half on Friday night.
They decided early that they were going to get after Phil Sims and try to pressure early decisions out of the Alabama bound Sims, and early in the game it worked. Sims never got going in the first half finishing 2 of 6 passing for 14 yards. Coach Richard Morgan of Oscar Smith realized what the Wolverines were doing and got their lightning quick tailback J.C. Coleman off to a big half. Coleman was having little trouble carrying the Tigers down the field, but Woodside's defense found a way to keep Phil Sims out of the end-zone.
Woodside had the first real opportunity to score but Chase Bradley, kicking against a swirling wind, missed short left from 37 yards out. Later in the first half Oscar Smith was pinned back inside their own 10 yard line and was forced to punt to Woodside, when the Wolverines broke into the backfield and blocked Phil Sims punt. Senior lineman, Nathan Ruckman would catch the block and rumble 6 yards in for a touchdown, giving Woodside the lead 7-0 at half.
During half-time, Coach Morgan and his staff made major adjustments and came out to start the half on a mission. They started to get Phil Sims on track and continued to work Coleman down the field to set up a Jeremy Majette 1-yard touchdown run. The PAT was missed however and Woodside still had the lead 7-6.
Oscar Smith really opened up their playbook and surprised everyone in the stadium when the Tigers called for the high school version of a fumblerooskie. The Tigers broke the huddle quickly with J.C. Coleman squatting down behind the offensive line just offset right of the center. Phil Sims hurried to the line and hiked the ball. Woodside didn't pick up on Coleman having the ball until he was well on his way to a 17-yard touchdown and an Oscar Smith lead, 13-7.
"All-Everything" QB, Aaron Evans would not let his team go quietly when he engineered a long drive downfield and gave Woodside back the lead 14-13 when he broke through the left side of the Oscar Smith defense and hit big with a 36-yard touchdown run. With plenty of time left in the fourth quarter, Phil Sims didn't panic. He started connecting on sharp passes and working his way down field, when he finally hooked up with dynamic receiver Charlie Ricks who laid out for a 48-yard touchdown pass.
Woodside was down by six and started their next drive off when Oscar Smith decided to pooch kick it and not allow the Wolverines speedy return men get a chance at a TD return, giving Woodside the ball at Oscar Smith's 40-yard line. Coach Danny Dodson's team started off well and then quarterback Aaron Evans was sacked twice, bringing up a huge fourth down and a likely punt. The Wolverines lined up in punt formation. The center hiked the ball to up-back Da' Shaun Jones who threw a bullet pass to streaking receiver DeAndrea Jackson who just couldn't pull it in. When Oscar Smith took over on downs, Coach Morgan dialed up another great play call and got Charlie Ricks the ball on a wide-out reverse and Ricks took care of the rest in shaking off tacklers for a 36-yard touchdown run and the final score of the game, 27-14.
Oscar Smith (13-0) will now wait and find out whether they play Hermitage (10-1) of Richmond or Thomas Dale (9-2) of Chester in the first round of the state tournament. With the talent and hunger that this Tiger squad shows, there is no reason to believe that they will not be bringing home another State Title home to Chesapeake.
This ends a wonderful season for Woodside (11-2). Coach Dodson and his Wolverines have nothing to hang their heads about. They played arguably the most talented team in the state until the very end. There was never any quit out there tonight for Woodside. They showed tremendous talent all year long, unfortunately they will lose some very good college prospects, but do have a great deal of talent returning next year.
Coach Nieman's Analysis
Presented By Advanced Restoration
The play of the game was with around four minutes left to go in the 4th quarter and Woodside was on their own 36-yard line and decided to fake a punt on 4th down and eight. The Wolverines trailing 20-14, Deshaun Jones cut the snap off before getting to punter Chase Bradley and threw a laser to his receiver DeAndre Jackson, but the young Wolverine couldn't hold on, giving Phil Sims and the Tigers the ball back on Woodside's 36-yard line. On the very next play Charlie Ricks scored a touchdown on a reverse ceiling the win for Oscar Smith 27-14. Woodside played a great game and had one heck of a season. This game was a lot closer than the score indicated.
Player of the Game
Presented By Lendys in Virginia Beach
Oscar Smith receiver Charlie Ricks was all over the place tonight. This award could have gone to a number of players but Ricks elevated his game today and made championship plays when it was necessary. He had 2TD's, one on a 48-yard reception, and the other on a 36-yard reverse.
