Woodside vs Oscar Smith Preview
No. 3 Woodside Wolverines at No. 1 Oscar Smith Tigers, Friday 7:30PM
Presented By TEAM ELITE in Virginia Beach
Last year these two teams played in the playoffs and the Tigers won 34-17, in a game in which Oscar Smith was clearly the better team. That was last year. This game could be the best game in the 757 the past 10 years. So many great matchups that are intriguing to the average high school football fan. Grassfield almost knocked off the defending champions last week, but Phil Sims the Alabama commit led his team from eight points down at halftime and won the game on a Charlie Ricks 30-yard touchdown catch with just seconds left, while Woodside had to overcome 5 turnovers from their star quarterback Aaron Evans, as they defeated Bayside 22-19.
Watching both quarterbacks a lot this year; I am going to have to give the edge to Sims by the slightest of margins. Yes I know Sims is going to play for the arrogant Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa and has an arm like Matthew Stafford, but Grassfield showed both times this year that teams can rattle arguably the best player in the state. Sims had two fumbles last week as Isaiah Twitty and the Grizzly defense were in the backfield a lot. Sims kept his composure and showed his senior leadership by taking what the defense gave him. He ate apart the Grassfield defense in the second half by just hitting his short reads. Whether it was a five yard out, a five yard in, a hitch, or a screen to sophomore running back J.C Coleman, Sims did a great job all night hitting his short routes.
Evans is a totally different player, everyone knows how he is only the second player to pass and run for 1,000 yards in a season in the Peninsula District. Evans makes plays with his feet, not saying Sims can't, but Evans can take it to the house from anywhere on the field with his 4.4 speed and Sims can't do that. Coach Dodson uses the Wing-T and the spread offense to get all his speed players in open space to make plays. Running backs Marquis Frazier and Jarrell Cooper help Evans a lot because they use the option, which forces the defense to choose their fate of who to defend. Sims has the big junior receiver Quintae Funderburke and the quick Rix to throw the ball to, while Evans favorite target is junior Kedric Soloman.
Another great matchup to watch is going to be in the trenches, as Woodside's Venson Jones goes up against the Penn State commit, Evan Hailes. Hailes hasn't seen anyone his size all year and should be ready for the task. Jones and Hailes play both ways, so it should be a battle all night long.
This game is a tossup and a lot of people are saying look what happened last year in these little high school blogs online. Folk's this isn't last year, Jerod Askew and Tim Smith aren't going to be running out of the cage on Friday night. Some people are saying since Woodside almost and should have beat Phoebus that they will win because Phoebus dominated the Tigers in a scrimmage this summer winning by two touchdowns. That may be true but it's a scrimmage. Coaches let players play who normally wouldn't get in the game; teams are trying new plays and just learning how to play as a team. Bottom line is that these two teams have been the best all year in their division and that's why we will see them battle it out on the field for the Eastern Region championship.
WHO HAS THE EDGE
Quarterback- Oscar Smith gets it barely just because of the experience and Sims seems so poised in the pocket.
Running backs- Woodside
Receivers- Oscar Smith
Offensive line- Woodside
Defensive line- Oscar Smith
Linebackers- Oscar Smith
Secondary- Woodside
Special Teams- Woodside
Pooches Pick- This is the hardest game to pick all year. I can see both teams winning; I wouldn't be stunned either way. I can see the Tigers losing; I can see the Tigers blowing out Woodside. I can see Aaron Evans running for 3 touchdowns and the Wolverines redeem themselves from last year's lost. With all that said I think that Oscar Smith will move on to defend their state title. Something about Mister Phil Sims and the way he leads his team on the field. Even with being down last week late in the game Sims kept his composure and led his team to the win. If Woodside tries to bring pressure Sims will find the open guy, if they don't bring pressure then he will find someone get open with his quick receivers. The Wolverines will have their hands full. Oscar Smith 31 Woodside 28.
