Football Friday: Oscar Smith-Great Bridge preview

Oscar Smith and Great Bridge meet at 7 tonight at Colon L. Hall Stadium in a Southeastern District showdown.

The Tigers, ranked No. 6 nationally by USA Today and No. 9 by ESPN, have won at least a share of the past five district titles. Oscar Smith has won 27 consecutive games and 53 of 54. Advance tickets are available today from noon to 2 p.m. at each school.

Starring roles

Oscar Smith (9-0, 8-0 Southeastern) QB Phillip Sims is the leading passer in South Hampton Roads with 1,995 yards and 22 TDs. He’s got two dangerous receivers in Charlie Ricks (41 receptions, 673 yards, 9 TDs) and Quinta Funderburk (35 receptions, 746 yards, 8 TDs). RB J.C. Coleman has rushed for 845 yards and 12 TDs.

Great Bridge (8-1, 7-1) QB Brad Hudson has thrown for 1,978 yards and 21 TDs . His favorite weapons are wide receivers Marc Meier (37 receptions, 653 yards, 10 TDs) and Trey Bray (36 receptions, 390 yards). RB Domonique Davis has rushed for more than 750 yards.

Plot twists

Oscar Smith has dominated the district, and the Tigers have won seven consecutive games against Great Bridge. “This is for the district championship and home-field advantage in the playoffs,” Sims said. “And neither team wants to start the playoffs following a loss. We just have to come out and stick to the game plan and play how we’ve been playing the last couple of weeks. If we do that then I think we’ll be OK.”

Oscar awards

Both Sims and placekicker Ryan Trotman are chasing records. Sims, already the leading passer in Virginia history, needs 360 yards to pass Great Bridge’s Casey Turner on South Hampton Roads’ regular-season list.

Trotman needs one extra point to become the state’s all-time leader. He has 174.

How it will end

Larry Rubama says Oscar Smith, 35-10. Tigers are getting playoff ready.

Jami Frankenberry says Oscar Smith, 38-17. Tigers – and Sims – usually thrive in big-game atmosphere.

Other key games

No. 4 Grassfield (7-2, 7-1) at Lakeland (6-3, 5-3), 7 p.m.

If last week’s 7-3 nail-biter over middle-of-the-pack Deep Creek showed the Grizzlies anything, it’s that the 3-year-old program has arrived.

“We’re a team people want to play now,” Grassfield coach Martin Asprey said. His team has won five straight, making it a target for opponents. “That’s a complete reversal from where we were.”

The Grizzlies are headed for their second straight Division 6 playoff berth with a defense that gives up just 9.2 points a game. Grassfield RBs Bruce Smith and Nick Warack have been nicked up, but Alfonso Emery has delivered big yards.

RB Cedric Johnson (917 yards rushing, 13 TDs) leads the Cavaliers.

Larry says Grassfield, 20-13.

Jami says Grassfield, 14-7.

– Chic Riebel

First Colonial (5-4) at No. 9 Cox (6-3), 7 p.m.

The Falcons are smallish, not real quick and don’t have much depth.

“We’re usually out-sized and out-athleted,” Cox coach Bill Stachelski said.

Yet, the Falcons have put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in three decades. They are likely to make the Division 6 playoffs for the second straight year though Severin Rucker, once the team’s leading rusher, has been suspended.

They’ve done it with a triple-option attack that is improving by the game and a defense that “lives to play another down.”

Do-it-all D.J. DiNardo (735 yards rushing, 15 TDs) has been terrific running the option as the Falcons have averaged 25.4 points.

Larry says Cox, 28-20.

Jami says First Colonial, 21-17.

– Chic Riebel