Herndon, VA — Following an 0-3 start and a few weeks of games being affected by weather, the Osbourn Park Yellow Jackets took to the road on Saturday to seek a win versus the Herndon Hornets (1-2). Despite starting in a 14-0 hole, they showed guts and grit in a 21-14 comeback victory. The Hornets used the home field advantage on their very first drive of the game behind the legs of senior running back Jaden Snead. Snead would snag a few first downs, followed by a 20-yard run from senior Michael Jones. Snead would then punch it in from 19 yards out to put the Hornets up 7-0 with 8:53 left in the first quarter. Osbourn Park would take over at their own 20-yard line with the versatile Anthony Smoot taking the snaps. His explosiveness would be key to OP’s pushing the pace and their 15 first downs on the day. On third down he scampered 11 yards to move the chains. A few plays later, a pass would be intercepted and returned for a score. The ensuing extra point would give Herndon a 14-0 lead with 6:13 left in the first quarter. The Yellow Jackets would turn the tide on their next opportunity. Smoot converted another third down as he took advantage of running room and bolted 16 yards for another first down. He would later be successful on fourth down, putting OP at the Hornets’ 34-yard line. Khyree Alexander would power through for a 17-yard dash, and Smoot would cap off the 16 play, 80-yard drive with a 6-yard score. OP would trail 14-7 with 10:45 left in the second half. The Hornets would try to answer, but senior quarterback Stephend Schoenefeldt would throw a deep ball that was intercepted by- who else- Anthony Smoot. Smoot would end the day on defense with 4 tackles and the interception. OP head coach Dan Evans would mix things up on the next drive, switching between Smoot and freshman quarterback Eddie Ostrander. The two would lead the Yellow Jackets on a 9 play, 59 yard drive that was punctuated by a 9-yard rushing touchdown from Smoot. The game would be knotted at 14 with 5:09 left in the half. Osbourn Park’s defense would force a punt from the Hornets on a drive that saw them stall out after 8 plays. A bad snap by the Yellow Jackets that went over Smoot’s head would be recovered by the home team at OP’s 13-yard line. Herndon got to the 1-yard line as Schoenefeldt pitched the ball to Snead on the right side with lots of space to work. Snead shifted to the inside, slipped and was stopped by Smoot on the final play of the first half . The two teams would go back and forth for much of the third quarter. Senior linebacker Luke Nitowski was OP’s designated punter, and showed off a boot when he nailed a 59 yard punt that pinned the Hornets at their own 1- yard line. Yellow Jacket senior tight end Tyler Hazen tracked down the ball. Ostrander was behind center once again as he was an integral part of the team’s 6 play, 24 yard drive that saw him finish it off with a fantastic throw to the sophomore Alexander. Ostrander managed to place the ball over the defender where only Alexander could reach it, and the receiver managed to bring it down with both feet in the back of the endzone. The extra point would give OP a 21-14 lead. The two teams would once again trade the ball back and forth on drives until Herndon had one last chance to tie or win the game from their own 27-yard line. They would manage to get the ball to their own 45-yard line with one final play to work with. Schoenefeldt would get to OP’s 38-yard line before he was forced to stop and throw the ball back to Snead at the opposite 46. Snead would make a beeline behind blockers before Khyree Alexander finally took him down at the 26-yard line, securing OP’s first win of 2018. Osbourn Park returns home this Friday, 9/28 to face the 1-3 Colgan Sharks at 7 pm. The game was rescheduled from the original 9/14 date due to Hurricane Florence. Game notes: - OP’s defense finished with 7 tackles for loss for -26 yards - Chris Martin (7 tackles, 3 TFL), Isaac Owusu (7 tackles, 2 TFL) and Khyree Alexander (6 tackles) were keys on defense for Osbourn Park. - OP dominated the ball, accounting for 15 first downs to Herndon’s 8. - The Yellow Jackets would finish 4-11 on third down to the Hornets’ 3-10. - OP was 3-3 on fourth down to Herndon’s 1-4. - The Hornets won the penalty battle, finishing with 4 for 48 yards as opposed to OP’s 10 for 72 yards. - Smoot would finish with 107 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. - OP ran the ball with 6 different players, accounting for 176 total rushing yards. - The longest catch of the night was by Connor Westhoff (19 yards) For more on the Yellow Jackets, stay tuned to this site and follow them on Twitter @OPJackets/ @OPHSfootball. Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron or e-mail me at [email protected].