There are big games, and there are BIG games.
When top-ranked Oscar Smith High hosts nationally ranked St. John Bosco of California at 7 p.m. Friday, it will be a BIG game for the Tigers.
Oscar Smith is a perennial power in Virginia and the defending Class 6 champion, while the Braves are ranked No. 2 in the SBLive Power 25 and No. 3 by MaxPreps and USA Today.
The game is billed as one of the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week.
The Tigers know just how BIG this game is.
“I think it’s obviously one of the more exciting games of the season for us just because we get a chance to not only put on a great show of football …, but more importantly we get a chance to have the best of Virginia versus the best of California,” Oscar Smith coach Chris Scott. said “We get a chance to see great football from both sides of the coast in one central place.”
St. John Bosco, located in Bellflower, just outside of Los Angeles, has finished in the MaxPreps Top 10 nationally the past five seasons. And in 2019, the Braves were MaxPreps National Champions.
The Braves (4-0) have one of the country’s toughest schedules, yet they haven’t trailed during their first four games and have outscored opponents 148-48.
They are led by four-star junior quarterback Pierce Clarkson, who has thrown for 345 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 134 yards and two scores. They also have QB Katin Houser (34 of 58, 498 yards, three TDs) and running backs Jabari Bates (229 yards, five TDs) and Rayshon Lake (218 yards, one TD). Chedon James (17 receptions, 286 yards, three TDs) and Logan Booher (10 receptions, 268 yards, two TDs) are the top receivers. Defensively, Sione Hala leads the Braves with 36 tackles.
They also have top prospects on the line, led by 6-foot-6, 265-pounder Matayo Uiagalelei (15 tackles) and Jairus Satele (31 tackles, 9.5 for loss) on defense, and Earnest Greene (6-5, 330) on offense.
“What is there not to like?” Scott said with a chuckle. “I’ve known Coach (Jason Negro) for a while. He’s done a great job. Their program is one of the top programs in the country nationally. I love the model that he’s doing. And I love the fact that we can get out and compete against the best players.”
Oscar Smith began ranked No. 36 in the MaxPreps Preseason Top 100. The Tigers have since climbed to No. 33. They are mentioned among the “other teams in the mix” this season by SBLive Power 25 and are the only Virginia team on that list.
The Tigers (2-0) have outscored opponents 106-3.
Oscar Smith quarterback Ethan Vasko is excited about the chance to play a nationally ranked program.
“It is a big game,” said Vasko, a three-star prospect and Old Dominion commit. “I think it’s just a good way to test to see how we are looking as a team. And to get on that national level, I think is going to be really good for our team.”
Oscar Smith safety Sherrod Covil said the Tigers want to show the rest of the state and the nation they can play against the nation’s best.
“At this point, this is probably the biggest game of my high school career and my whole career,” said Covil, a four-star prospect and Clemson commit. “It means we get to prove ourselves because everybody thinks last year’s team was bound to win state because it was a COVID year. But we really get to prove how good we really are. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Oscar Smith athletic director Ray Collins is expecting a big crowd. More than 2,500 tickets have already been sold.
The Tigers just want to make sure they put on a good showing.
“I think it would be awesome, especially if we go out here and get the win, I think it will move us up higher nationally,” Vasko said. “I definitely think we have the talent to do it and the coaching to help us get there.”
Predictions: Larry: Bosco 35-24, Marty O’Brien: Bosco 24-21.
Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com Follow @LHRubama on Twitter.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students
Buy them at www.gofan.co
Or direct link:
https://gofan.co/app/events/386451?schoolId=VA12896
Shuttle service will be available from River Oak Church
