Oxford Football Coach Bud Rowley paid a ‘visit? to his team at halftime last week at Lapeer East and the team responded by visiting the end zone five times in the second half for a 45-35 comeback win over the Eagles.
The Wildcats trailed 20-9 at halftime but erupted for 36 points in the second half to keep the team’s title hopes alive. A loss would have likely ended any hope for its defense of the league title. Oxford is 5-1, one game behind league-leading Linden at 6-0.
Senior quarterback Nick Tombrella accounted for six touchdowns, three passing and three running, to lead the team.
Tombrella said that Rowley challenged the seniors to step up ‘and play Oxford football. He told us it was our game to win.?
Rowley said he merely ‘visited with the team? and added, ‘It was a great win for these gentlemen.?
Scoring came in bunches for each team. Oxford scored nine points within the first three minutes of the game.
The first two points came on a safety on the opening kickoff.
On the kickoff, the ball went through the legs of one East player. A second one picked up the ball and retreated into the end zone trying to avoid tacklers when Dennis Brown caught him for the safety.
The Cats then took possession of the ball on the kick and came back to the end zone very quickly. Tombrella hit Spencer Britt on a 30-yard TD strike. Matt Versteeg then connected on the first of five conversions.
East then took control of the game for the next 15 minutes, scoring touchdowns on a 71-yard pass, and runs of 9 and 34 yards. The Eagles missed one of the conversions and held what seemed to be a commanding 20-9 advantage.
But, the Cats answered with their best quarter of the season following Rowley’s ‘visit? with the team at halftime.
The offense scored 22 points in the third quarter and controlled the ball. The Wildcat’s defense stymied the East offense, holding the Eagles to only seven offensive plays for the entire quarter.
Tombrella led the attack with TD runs of 5 and 53 yards sandwiched around a five yard TD pass to Prescott Line. Tombrella also ran for a two-point conversion in the quarter.
The Cats continued their onslaught in the fourth quarter, when Tombrella hit Tony Esparsa on a 38-yard TD, to go up 38-20.
East’s offense then got back on track and got a TD on a 20-yard pass to cut the lead to 38-27.
Tombrella answered one more time with an 11-yard TD run, his third of the game.
East scored the final TD of the game in the waning moments to cut Oxford’s margin to 10 points, 45-35.
Tombrella led Oxford rushers with 156 yards on 14 carries. Oxford had 313 yards rushing and 88 passing. Autsyn Sylva had 90 yards rushing.
East had 178 yards rushing and 302 passing.
The Wildcats host Swartz Creek this Friday at 7 in the annual homecoming game. Creek is 0-6 in the Metro League. A win by Oxford would improve the team’s record to 6-1 and guarantee the squad a berth in the state football playoffs.