Football: Oscar Smith tops Oakton, heads to first state final

VIENNA

Ryan Trotman walked through the handshake line and trekked off the field unnoticed after Oscar Smith High School’s first 13 football games this season.

On Saturday, Trotman left to high-fives, hugs and helmet pats.

Trotman booted a 23-yard field goal – his first career game-winning kick and just his fourth successful field goal this season – with 1:27 remaining to propel the Tigers to a hard-fought 10-7 victory over Oakton in a Group AAA Division 6 state semifinal in Northern Virginia.

Trotman’s unlikely heroics capped a riveting game on a chilly afternoon in Northern Virginia when Oscar Smith got some key big plays on offense, some crucial defensive stops and played most of the second half without two-way star Perry Jones.

The Tigers (14-0) earned a spot in Saturday’s state championship game against Northwest Region champion Osbourn (9-4) at 4:07 p.m. Saturday at Virginia Tech.

Mostly this season, Trotman watched from the sideline as the Tigers rolled up big numbers and frequently capped drives with touchdowns. Often, he was called on only for extra points.

In his team’s latest victory, though, Trotman trotted on with a chance to send Oscar Smith to the program’s first state championship game. The Tigers drove inside the Oakton 10-yard line with the game tied 7-7.

“I was pretty nervous,” Trotman said. “I was just thinking about what I had to do for my team.”

Trotman’s game-winning kick capped a taut slugfest in which both teams lost star players to injury.

Oakton quarterback Chris Coyer, who has accounted for nearly 3,000 yards of offense, was taken off in an ambulance after a helmet-to-helmet collision late in the first quarter. His replacement, Ryan Harris, had played throughout the season but wasn’t the same versatile threat.

Jones, the Tigers’ leading rusher and a key cog at linebacker, missed most of the second half with a twisted left ankle. Jones rushed for nearly 900 yards in the first three playoff games, but finished with 34 yards on 13 attempts against Oakton.

Oscar Smith, with and without Jones, struggled to crack the end zone and suffered through its first scoreless half of the season. Oakton led 7-0 at the half after Harris’ 22-yard touchdown pass to Jay Young late in the second quarter.

That score, though, was all the Tigers’ defense allowed despite surrendering 307 total yards.

Oscar Smith’s defense consistently turned in big plays, collecting three sacks, batting down three passes and coming up with the game’s only turnover – a fourth-quarter fumble deep in Oscar Smith territory which led to Trotman’s field goal.

“They’re extremely fast to the ball,” Harris said. “They fast, they’re physical, a very good defense.”

The Tigers forced six punts and in the second half stopped Oakton twice on fourth down. With the game tied late in the fourth quarter, the Cougars reached the Oscar Smith 16-yard line before Jarmara Gray jarred the ball loose from Oakton running back Trey Watts. Corey Steward hopped on the fumble to give Oscar Smith possession.

The Tigers had flashes of brilliance on offense – highlighted by Tim Smith’s 70-yard reception – and quarterback Phillip Sims shook off an erratic first half.

Sims threw for 195 yards after halftime and orchestrated the game-winning drive by completing three passes for 75 yards, including a 47-yarder to Smith.

“We just had to find ourselves a little bit,” Tigers coach Richard Morgan said. “We were kind of all over the pace in the first half and made the plays when we had to in the second half.”

The 47-yarder put Oscar Smith at the 5, and three plays later it was fourth-and-goal from the 7.

Trotman came on after a timeout.

“I just stayed focused and kept my head down,” he said. “I looked up and saw it going straight through.”

Notable stats: OS-Sims 19-33-0, 243 yards, TD passing; Smith 8-140, TD receiving, 2-21 rushing; Oak-Coyer 3-6-0, 39 yards passing; Harris 6-16-0, 98 yards, TD passing; Jonathan Meadows 14-45 rushing; Watts 9-54 rushing.

  Oscar Smith 10, Oakton 7

Oscar Smith  0 0 7 3 – 10

Oakton 0 7 0 0 – 7

OS / Oakton

First downs 13 / 14

Rushes-yards 25-74 / 33-170

Passing yards 243 / 137

Passing 19-33-0 / 9-22-0

Punts-avg 5-46 / 6-32

Fumbles-lost 1-0 / 1-1

Penalties-yards 5-25 / 8-65

Oakton-Young 22 pass from Harris (Goins kick)

OS-Smith 8 pass from Sims (Trotman kick)

OS-FG 23 Trotman

See a Photo Gallery from the game

Read Larry Rubama's Oscar Smith notebook