When it was announced two years ago that perennial powers Oscar Smith and Phoebus would play in a regular-season game, football fans in Hampton Roads couldn’t wait.
The past two games were the most anticipated regular-season showdowns in recent memory between two of the most prolific football programs in the state.
Unfortunately, neither game has lived up to the billing as the home team has dominated. Oscar Smith won the first meeting 42-0, and Phoebus returned the beatdown last season with a 56-0 win.
The two teams will try it again on Friday at Oscar Smith’s Beard-DeLong-Easley Field as the third-ranked Tigers host No. 2 Phoebus at 7 p.m.
“It’s only right that Oscar Smith is back on the schedule,” Phoebus coach Jeremy Blunt said. “They beat us two years ago and we beat them last year, so this is the tie-breaker and, as a competitor, you look forward to it.”
Oscar Smith players feel the same way. And they haven’t forgotten last season’s loss.
“We’re definitely looking forward to this week because we know we have to face them again,” said Tigers defensive back Jahmari DeLoatch. “We’re prepping more and getting ready. We’re not getting too ahead of ourselves. We’re being careful making sure we’re not missing any assignments.”
This will be Oscar Smith’s second game after the Tigers (1-0) traveled to Richmond last week and beat Hermitage 39-25.
Phoebus has won back-to-back state championships.
“It’s exciting, especially because we do play them at home,” said DeLoatch, a junior who has eight offers, including Michigan and Duke. “So we feel like it’s an advantage for us. It’s going to be real packed.”
Blunt said his team also is looking forward to this game.
“It’s about iron sharpening iron when you play that level of competition. The ultimate benefit is that the kids grow and mature as they work to reach the ultimate goal — the state championship.”
Larry’s pick: Oscar Smith 35-34. Marty’s pick: Phoebus 21-13
Staff writers Larry Rubama and Marty O’Brien provide their fearless predictions, as they will through state championship week in December.
Thursday’s games
757Teamz Top 15
No. 12 Cox (1-0) at No. 4 Green Run (1-0), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Green Run 28-20. Marty’s pick: Green Run 27-7.
Benedictine (0-0) at No. 6 Western Branch (1-0), 6 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Western Branch 28-14. Marty’s pick: Western Branch 14-6.
No. 10 Warhill (1-0) at Matoaca (0-0), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Warhill 28-24. Marty’s pick: Matoaca 21-20.
Tallwood (0-0) at No. 13 Bayside (1-0), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Bayside 26-20. Marty’s pick: Bayside 35-28.
No. 14 Salem (0-1) at Ocean Lakes (1-0), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Salem 27-21. Marty’s pick: Salem 24-20.
Beach District
Kempsville (0-1) at Kellam (0-1), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Kempsville 35-14. Marty’s pick: Kempsville 21-6.
Landstown (0-1) at Princess Anne (0-1), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Landstown 33-13. Marty’s pick: Landstown 38-16.
Peninsula District
Menchville (0-1) vs. Heritage (0-1) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Menchville 34-14. Marty’s pick: Menchville 27-20.
Non-district
Bruton (1-0) at Nandua (1-0), 6 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Bruton 24-21. Marty’s pick: Bruton 21-19.
Essex (1-0) vs. Jamestown (1-0) at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Essex 24-23. Marty’s pick: Essex 28-21.
Hampton (1-0) at King George (1-0), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: King George 34-27. Marty’s pick: King George 35-24.
Kecoughtan (1-0) vs. Granby (1-0) at Powhatan Field, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Granby 27-26. Marty’s pick: Granby 13-12.
Manor (0-1) at Hickory (0-0), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Manor 21-20. Marty’s pick: Hickory 7-6.
Woodside (0-1) at Grassfield (0-1), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Woodside 14-13. Marty’s pick: Grassfield 17-13.
York (0-0) at Gloucester (0-1), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: York 27-13. Marty’s pick: York 28-27.
Friday’s games
757Teamz Top 15
No. 1 Maury (0-0) at Wise, Md. (0-0), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Maury 28-26 . Marty’s pick: Maury 28-17.
Bethel (0-1) vs. No. 5 Warwick (1-0) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Warwick 41-13. Marty’s pick: Warwick 42-13.
St. Christopher’s vs. No. 9 Lafayette at Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Lafayette 35-24. Marty’s pick: Lafayette 21-6.
C.H. Flowers (0-0) at No. 15 Norcom (1-0), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: C.H. Flowers 41-20. Marty’s pick: C.H. Flowers 24-10.
Southeastern District
Lakeland (0-0) at Indian River (0-1), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Indian River 33-13. Marty’s pick: Indian River 48-20.
Non-district
Norview (1-0) vs. Great Bridge (0-0) at Great Bridge MS, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Norview 20-14. Marty’s pick: Norview 15-13
Smithfield (0-1) at Churchland (0-1), 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Churchland 33-23. Marty’s pick: Churchland 21-14.
Private schools
Atlantic Shores Christian at Roanoke Catholic, 7 p.m.
Blue Ridge at Nansemond-Suffolk, 7 p.m.
Isle of Wight at Portsmouth Christian, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Deep Creek (0-0) at Currituck County, N.C. (0-1), 2 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Deep Creek 41-13. Marty’s pick: Deep Creek 42-7.
Private schools
Norfolk Academy at Potomac School, 1 p.m.
Norfolk Christian at Frederickburg Christian, 6 p.m.
How they fared
Marty O’Brien: 15-7 last week, 15-7 overall (68.1%)
Larry Rubama: 18-4 last week, 18-4 overall (81.1%)
