Football notes: Morgan unfazed by Oscar Smith's rise in national rankings

Oscar Smith continues to rise in the national rankings.

The Tigers, the top-ranked team in South Hampton Roads and in the state, have moved up to No. 8 in the ESPN rankings and No. 14 in USA Today’s rankings. Oscar Smith is ranked No. 9 by Prep Nation and No. 11 by Rivals.com.

“I haven’t looked at the rankings in the last two weeks,” Oscar Smith coach Rich Morgan said. “In reality, none of it matters. As soon as you lose a football game, you won’t be in anyone’s rankings.

“It’s great for the school and great publicity for the kids and the program, but if you get caught up in it, you will get beat.”

The Tigers are 6-0 and have all but wrapped up their fifth consecutive Southeastern District title with four games left in the regular season. They host King’s Fork (3-3) on Friday. Oscar Smith has outscored opponents 268-35, and its starters have played little in the second half of games.

On-field victory seen as turning point for Wilson

Wilson coach Carlton Thomas sees light at the end of the tunnel.

Last week, Wilson earned its first on-the-field victory since Nov. 11, 2004, when the Presidents defeated Granby, 10-7. Last season, the Presidents were awarded a forfeit when Nansemond River used an ineligible player.

Friday’s victory also was the first on-the-field win for Thomas at Wilson.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Thomas, who is now 2-24 at Wilson. “Of course, I was excited myself, but I was more excited for them because I’ve experienced winning before. But I tell you, it was good, and the kids were going crazy because they had finally broken through.”

Thomas played on several outstanding teams at Wilson. As a coach, he guided Norview to two Eastern District titles. Now he hopes to bring the same winning attitude to Wilson. He has seen a big difference this week in practice.

“Just about everybody was there,” he said. “I didn’t have to pull any teeth, I didn’t have to go looking for anybody, and nobody came up to me with excuses about why they couldn’t be there. So you can see what a win can do for you. It helps those guys get some focus because now they want that feeling again.”

New players step up to keep Isle of Wight rolling

Isle of Wight Academy is rolling again this season.

The Chargers, three-time defending private school state champions in Division III, are 6-0 and are the top-ranked team in Division III again this season.

The amazing part is that Isle of Wight Academy coach Dale Chapman returned just six starters from last season.

“We always talk about tradition at our school,” he said. “And no team wants to be that team that doesn’t have a winning season or even try to win a state title.”

Chapman said it’s still early to be talking about another state title, but he feels good about his team’s success so far.

“Our philosophy this season is play together as a team,” he said. “And if your number is called, make a big play and help our team win the game.”

Big plays on defense keep Ocean Lakes unbeaten

One play, a fourth-and-goal stop in the final minute, sealed Ocean Lakes’ come-from-behind win against Kellam on Friday. But the Dolphins’ defense made plenty of other plays in the second half to stay unbeaten.

“A great team effort,” Ocean Lakes coach Chris Scott said. “Everybody did it from top to bottom.”

The Dolphins forced three punts, intercepted a pass and stopped Kellam twice on fourth down after halftime.

Two of those punts came after just three plays, and Ocean Lakes stopped a Knights drive at the Dolphins’ 22-yard line on fourth-and-1.

All that came against a Kellam team that leads South Hampton Roads in total offense and is averaging 297.6 rushing yards per game.

“It proves we can lock down anybody,” said defensive back Shamarko Thomas, who was in on the game-sealing tackle.

Ocean Lakes (6-0) plays Tallwood on Friday, then meets Green Run (6-0) on Oct. 17.

Johnson comes back to help Lakeland end skid

A well-rested – and healed – Cedric Johnson helped Lakeland snap a disheartening losing streak.

Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior, had played only a few snaps two weeks ago because of a sprained neck. Normally a two-way starter, Johnson played only running back Friday and gained 280 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 38-13 victory over King’s Fork.

“It keeps him fresh, so we didn’t have to rotate running backs,” coach Glenwood Ferebee said. “It’s hard to tackle the kid. He’s just a relentless runner, he’s strong and gives us that bruising, punishing style of running back with speed.”

The Cavaliers (2-4, 2-3 Southeastern District) had lost four consecutive games by 23 total points before Friday. Lakeland can earn bragging rights in Suffolk with a victory Friday vs. Nansemond River.

“I told the kids let’s try to play a mistake-free game and see what happens,” Ferebee said. “We played basically a mistake-free game with the exception of one interception and didn’t have any fumbles and didn’t have any penalties in crucial situations that had been killing us.”

Return of Via, Brewbaker boost Norfolk Academy

More players, more options.

Versatile players Andy Via (foot) and Jimmy Brewbaker (concussion) returned for last week’s victory over Bishop Sullivan Catholic, helping Norfolk Academy improve to 3-0 in Tidewater Conference play.

Both Via and Brewbaker saw time at quarterback along with starter William Scott.

The offense “is much better; it just kind of gives us more options,” Bulldogs coach Dennis McCall said. “I have a backup quarterback now, which is key. And we’ve wanted to take advantage of William’s athletic ability and move him to receiver some to try to get the ball in his hands in space.”

Fullback Scott Heller has been key, too, rushing for five TDs in the past two games.

“He has really energized our offense from the fullback position,” McCall said. “He’s a tremendous talent and all of a sudden has come on and is doing a tremendous job for us.”

Norfolk Academy (4-2) has a key TCIS game this week at home against Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (3-3, 2-0).

The Bulldogs picked up an extra victory this week when Fork Union forfeited two games for using an ineligible player. Fork Union originally topped Norfolk Academy 30-6 Aug. 29.

Poittilo piles up stats for I. River’s potent offense

Indian River is climbing South Hampton Roads’ statistical leader board after a pair of jaw-dropping games.

The Braves put up 932 yards in victories over Nansemond River and Great Bridge and rank fourth in total offense.

Versatile playmaker Dravon Poittilo led the way in Friday’s 48-7 victory over Great Bridge. Poittilo completed 5 of 5 passes for 162 yards and a TD, and had seven receptions for 129 yards and two scores. Poittilo also returned an interception 42 yards for a TD.

Oscar Smith’s Hailes powers into the end zone

Oscar Smith lineman Evan Hailes scored his first career touchdown last Friday on a 1-yard run against Western Branch.

“The only thing I was thinking about was I’ve got to score,” he said. “This was too big of a game for me not to score. I just had the mentality that I just couldn’t get stopped.”

Tigers coach Rich Morgan said they’ve had the play in the game plan all season.

“We just wanted to take the right opportunity to run it,” he said. “He was able to bounce off a couple of guys to get to the end zone.”

Actually, Western Branch players bounced off Hailes.

Hailes, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 315 pounds, added that it’s a little early to call him the “Mini-Fridge.” He hadn’t been born when 380-pound lineman William ''The Refrigerator’’ Perry was scoring touchdowns for the Chicago Bears, but Hailes said he has heard of Perry.