NORFOLK, Va. — The Oscar Smith Tigers had one step remaining in their 2024 resurgence: beat James Madison and return the Class 6 State Title to Chesapeake for the first time since 2021.
Down 14-7 in the 4th quarter, the Tigers marched 91 yards down the field, tying the game with a touchdown pass from Lonnie Andrews to Travis Johnson.
After a huge stop from the defense, Oscar Smith again marched down the field. Brandon Nesbit scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 19 seconds to play in the game, sending the Smith sideline into delirium.
With just 6 seconds to play, the Tigers needed one more stop. James Madison quarterback Cael Yates escaped pressure in the back field through the zeroes on the clock before heaving the ball toward Dominic Knicely, who had created just enough space to catch the hail mary while falling back words into the end zone.
James Madison's crowd erupted while a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct landed on the turf. The penalty pushed the PAT back 15 yards, and Madison elected to go for 2 and the win.
Yates' pass fell through the outstretched hands of his diving receiver, and Oscar Smith Tigers flooded the field as state champions.