Coach Bud Rowley and his Oxford Wildcats have their sights set on a Flint Metro League title this season and took the first step toward that goal last week.
The Cats handed a tough Holly team a 14-10 loss in the opening game of the 2006 football season.
On Thursday, the Wildcats will travel to Clio to take on the Mustangs at 6:55 p.m.
Rowley was pleased with the Wildcat’s win and was especially pleased with the play of the defense.
‘It was a great win. The defense played phenomenal,? Rowley said. ‘The offense was up and down and sputtered, but we did well. Good things came out of it. We got a win and that’s all that matters.?
Holly is an improved team and was expected to pose a strong challenge.
The Bronchos looked especially strong on their opening drive when they marched 74 yards down to the Oxford six. Holly’s sustained drive ran off more than 10 minutes of the opening quarter.
The Wildcat defense made the first of several big stops on the six yard line and Holly had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Jamey Gavel.
The Cats matched Holly’s drive, beginning on Oxford’s 43 yard line. The big play on the drive was a first-down pass from Oxford quarterback Jeremy Bukoski to Eric Shipman on a fourth and five from the Broncho 15.
Joel Fortier scored on a one yard run with 7:40 left before halftime. Don Pohl kicked the first of his two conversions.
Holly threatened to score again and moved down to the Wildcat nine when Dustyn Brown intercepted a pass on a fourth and four.
Oxford went to its traditional strong ground attack, moving down the field to the Broncho’s six before time expired in the second quarter. The big play in the drive was a 22-yard halfback option pass completion from Vinnie Ives to Johnny Violante.
Oxford out-rushed Holly in the first half, 157 to 107. Ives picked up 52 of Oxford’s yards while Fortier had 50 on 11 attempts.
In the second half, the Oxford defense seemed to solve the Holly offense and held the Bronchos to only 50 yards rushing for the half.
Oxford’s Fortier got his second one-yard TD with 3:02 left in the third quarter. After Pohl converted, the Cats led 14-3.
The Cat’s appeared headed for a third score midway through the fourth quarter but Holly’s A.J. Palko stripped the ball away from an Oxford ball carrier and ran 83 yards for his team’s only TD of the night. Gavel kicked the PAT and Holly trailed, 14-10.
Holly’s defense held Oxford but a 50 yard punt by Nick Collier pinned the Broncho’s back on their eight with 6:01 left in the game.
Holly moved the ball out to Oxford’s 45 but Collier grabbed an interception with 1:57 left and Oxford took over on their 33.
Holly’s defense then held Oxford and the Cats punted with 15 seconds remaining. Holly took over on their 41 yard line.
On the first play, Zach Tilley grabbed Oxford’s third interception of the game to seal the victory.
Oxford finished with 293 total yards, which included 100 yards rushing by Ives and 97 for Fortier.
Following the away game on Thursday at Clio, the Cats will host U of D Jesuit at home on September 8, followed by a visit from Lapeer West on Sept. 15.