The Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy (SMLCA) Ospreys finished this year’s football season in style, blanking the Isle of Wight Chargers 42-0.
“It was a good team win against a pretty decent team,” SMLCA Coach Kenis Maciel said. “We had heard it was a tough place to play. I felt our boys did a really good job keeping their composure.”
The win lifted SMLCA’s season record to 9-1, the best in the school’s history.
After driving down to the Chargers 3-yard line on the opening drive, the Ospreys fumbled away that scoring opportunity. But after the defense forced a 3-and-out by Isle of Wight, the Ospreys got the ball around midfield and drove down the field capping it off with a 7-yard scoring run by Kayden Saunders, going up 7-0.
In the second quarter, Saunders put the Ospreys up 14-0 on a 39-yard run.
“It took some time moving the ball and scoring some points,” Coach Maciel said. But Chase Miller put SMLCA up 21-0 with a 12-yard scoring reception.
The Ospreys got the ball near the end of the second quarter with 90 seconds left in the half. Their first play was an incomplete pass, so Coach Maciel had decided to run the clock out and go into halftime up three TD’s. That strategy changed, however, after getting a first down on a run. The O’s used the passing game to march down the field and score on a 24-yard scoring pass from Jacob Parziale to Micah Vandelinde.
“At that point it felt a whole lot more comfortable,” Coach Maciel said of the score.
Saunders would score his third touchdown on a 10-yard run in the third quarter, a run which would be the last score as an Osprey for the senior tailback. Josh Bisnett scored SMLCA’s final score on a 4-yard run.
While the offense produced 346 yards of offense and six touchdowns, it was the defense that led the way, giving up just 62 total yards of offense to the Chargers.
Coach Maciel noted the defensive play of Gabe Shaffer, Vandelinde, and the defensive line and linebackers in stuffing the Isle of Wight running game. Shaffer also blocked a punt.
“The defense is always happy whenever they get a shutout,” Coach Maciel said.
On Saturday, the team went to the Liberty University football game and had around 135 players and family members tailgating before the game.
“It was a good way to end the season with the Osprey family,” Coach Maciel said.
Coach Maciel said several Osprey seniors may get the opportunity to play football at the next level.
