Football: Oscar Smith to pay tribute to slain former player Friday night

CHESAPEAKE 

  Perry Jones and Lonnie Andrews Jr. met in elementary school, then grew up together and grew into football stars at Oscar Smith High School. Tonight, Jones will honor his friend when he wears Andrews’ jersey — No. 26 — in the Tigers’ season opener at home against Booker T. Washington.

Andrews, a 1,000-yard rusher last season as a senior, was shot and killed in July. After Jones wears the jersey tonight, Oscar Smith will retire Andrews’ number.

“It’s going to mean a lot,” said Jones, who as a fullback was one of Andrews’ key blockers last season. “Lonnie had been wearing that number since his freshman year, so I think he’d want me to wear it for him. I know I’m going to play my hardest in his honor so I won’t disappoint anybody who sees me wearing his number.”

A memorial was held for Andrews this summer, but Tigers coach Richard Morgan said the team wanted to pay tribute to him during the season. On Oscar Smith’s first possession, players will take Andrews’ jersey on the field and line up with 10 players, without a running back. The Tigers will take a delay-of-game penalty as they observe a moment of silence for Andrews.

“To us, it’s the most appropriate way to honor him when the stadium is filled with people and we’re playing a game,” Morgan said. “Oscar Smith football was the most important thing in his life.”

The funeral and memorial “weren’t held in places Lonnie wanted to be,” Morgan added. “He wanted to be here.”