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757Teamz predictions: No. 1 Oscar Smith visits No. 13 Indian River on Thursday in Southeastern battle

larry rubama, marty o'brien, the virginian-pilot
·4 min read

Oscar Smith has dominated Southeastern District football since 2004, winning 16 of the past 17 championships.

Indian River interrupted that streak with a victory over the Tigers in 2018.

The Braves are one of just three district teams to beat the Tigers since 2006, and Indian River will try again when the teams meet at 6 p.m. Thursday. The game — along with a host of others in Hampton Roads — was moved from Friday because of expected inclement weather.

Since 2000, Oscar Smith leads the series against Indian River 21-1. The Braves’ last win before 2018 came in 1998.

If the Braves are to pull off the upset, they must find a way to score against Oscar Smith’s vaunted defense, and keep the Tigers out of the end zone.

So far, no team has been able to either. The Tigers are averaging 58 points, while allowing under 10 per game.

Oscar Smith coach Chris Scott has used three quarterbacks in each game this season. Leading the way is Cade Cox, who has completed 29 of 37 passes for 487 yards and eight touchdowns. Parker Lancaster has completed 15 of 24 for 327 yards and six touchdowns, and Jamar Wright has completed 7 of 12 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.

The Tigers have thrown for 936 yards and rushed for more than 400 yards.

Jamauri “Bam” Knox has a team-leading 16 receptions for 341 yards and three touchdowns, and West Virginia commit Tory Johnson has nine receptions for 192 yards and five scores.

The Braves (3-1) suffered their first loss of the season when King’s Fork blanked them 28-0 in the third game of the season. But they rebounded last week as they came from behind to beat Nansemond River 27-17. Quarterback Tyler Allison passed for 211 yards and four touchdowns and the defense pitched a second-half shutout in the win.

Larry’s pick: Oscar Smith 48-14

Marty’s pick: Oscar Smith 42-14

Thursday’s games

757TEAMZ TOP 15

No. 4 Maury (2-1) vs. Norcom (4-1) at Powhatan Field, 7 p.m.

Larry: Maury 34-20

Marty: Maury 23-14

No. 5 King’s Fork (4-0) at Grassfield (0-5), 7 p.m.

Larry: King’s Fork 35-7

Marty: King’s Fork 49-0

Bayside (3-2) at No. 6 Kempsville (4-1), 7 p.m.

Larry: Kempsville 28-20

Marty: Kempsville 21-13

No. 7 Western Branch (3-1) at Great Bridge (2-2), 7 p.m.

Larry: Western Branch 27-14

Marty: Western Branch 38-12

No. 8 Lake Taylor (3-1) at Booker T. Washington (2-2), 7 p.m.

Larry: Lake Taylor 34-23

Marty: Lake Taylor 30-24

No. 10 Woodside (4-0) vs. Menchville (3-2) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.

Larry: Woodside 27-14

Marty: Woodside 26-13

No. 11 Warwick (4-1) vs. Kecoughtan (3-1), at Darling Stadium, 7 p.m.

Larry: Warwick 34-20

Marty: Warwick 28-19

Tallwood (0-4) at No. 12 Cox (4-1), 7 p.m.

Larry: Cox 27-13

Marty: Cox 48-13

No. 14 Lafayette (3-1) at New Kent (2-2), 7 p.m.

Larry: Lafayette 34-13

Marty: Lafayette 28-8

No. 15 Salem (3-1) at Landstown (3-1), 7 p.m.

Larry: Salem 27-20

Marty: Salem 28-10

BAY RIVERS DISTRICT

Poquoson (3-1) at Smithfield (2-2), 7 p.m.

Larry: Poquoson 26-23

Marty: Poquoson 20-14

BEACH DISTRICT

Ocean Lakes (0-5) at First Colonial (1-3), 7 p.m.

Larry: Ocean Lakes 28-27

Marty: First Colonial 24-21

Princess Anne (0-5) at Kellam (2-2), 7 p.m.

Larry: Kellam 23-14

Marty: Kellam 27-7

EASTERN DISTRICT

Norview (1-4) at Manor (0-4), 7 p.m.

Larry: Norview 27-13

Marty: Norview 21-6

SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT

Lakeland (1-4) at Deep Creek (3-1), 7 p.m.

Larry: Deep Creek 27-13

Marty: Deep Creek 48-6

NON-DISTRICT

Bruton (3-2) at Charles City (0-3), 7 p.m.

Larry: Bruton 23-14

Marty: Bruton 27-16

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Fork Union at Norfolk Academy, 5:30 p.m.

Catholic at Norfolk Christian, 7 p.m.

Atlantic Shores at Nansemond-Suffolk, 7:30 p.m.

Friday’s games

757TEAMZ TOP 15

No. 2 Phoebus (4-0) vs. Denbigh (0-5) at Darling Stadium

Cancelled, Phoebus wins by forfeit.

#11 Warhill (3-2) vs. Jamestown (0-4) at Wanner Stadium

Larry: Warhill 37-13

Marty: Warhill 47-6

BAY RIVER DISTRICT

York (3-1) vs. Tabb (0-4) at Bailey Field

Larry: York 27-20

Marty: Tabb 17-16

PENINSULA DISTRICT

Heritage (2-3) at Gloucester (0-5)

Larry: Heritage 20-6

Marty: Heritage 28-6

Hampton (1-4) vs. Bethel (2-3) at Darling Stadium

Larry: Bethel 26-23

Marty: Bethel 27-13

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Covenant at Greenbrier Christian, 4 p.m.

Southampton Academy at Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s game

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Isle of Wight at Fredericksburg Christian, 1 p.m

LAST WEEK

Larry: 17-6, 89-21 overall (81%)

Marty: 20-3, 94-16 overall (85%)