Top-ranked Oscar Smith starts slowly, then dominates No. 6 King’s Fork
Oscar Smith coach Chris Scott knew Friday’s game against No. 6 King’s Fork was going to be an emotional one.
And it wasn’t just because it was Oscar Smith’s homecoming.
He was going against Anthony Joffrion, who played for Scott at Ocean Lakes and coached with Scott at Oscar Smith.
“It’s tough and bittersweet,” Scott said. “It’s one of those things where you’re playing against family. And when you play against family, it’s super-competitive.”
And for nearly two quarters, the Bulldogs gave top-ranked Oscar Smith all it could handle, including taking an early seven-point lead.
But the Tigers responded with 49 unanswered points to hand King’s Fork its first loss of the season with a 49-7 victory.
“It’s a great statement game in regards to we want to play against the best,” Scott said. “But I’m proud of him and I know they’ll continue to do great things.”
King’s Fork (5-1 overall, 4-1 Southeastern District) had the momentum early following an Oscar Smith fumble. Quarterback Cameron Butler threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kaletri Boyd for the 7-0 lead.
The Bulldogs held Oscar Smith scoreless the rest of the first quarter.
The Tigers (5-1, 5-0 district) got going in the second quarter on quarterback Ethan Vasko’s 9-yard touchdown to Tory Johnson to tie the game at 7.
On the ensuing kickoff, a King’s Fork returner thought the ball was going into the end zone, but it stopped at the 1. He was tackled at the 4. A tipped punt gave Oscar Smith got the ball on the King’s Fork 14.
Three plays later, Vasko threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Knox.
King’s Fork couldn’t catch a break.
Later in the quarter, the Bulldogs had Oscar Smith backed up to its 6 and then seemed to have an interception by Yasir Geter. But it was waved off for a penalty that gave the Tigers the ball back, and then another penalty moved the ball to the 34.
Vasko completed his next two passes, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to Kevon King.
“They had a big penalty of roughing the passer on the (interception),” Scott said. “We were able to kind of break it open. From there, Ethan stretched the field and the receivers made some good plays.”
It also didn’t help that the Bulldogs were penalized 18 times in the first half.
It was all Tigers from there.
“I think we just had to start playing together,” said Vasko, who completed 8 of 12 passes for 179 yards. “I think by the third possession, we started playing Smith football again.”
Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com Follow @LHRubama on Twitter.
