The Oxford Wildcats varsity football squad received a rude introduction to the Oakland Activities Association last week, but the raucous standing-room-only crowd at Lake Orion perhaps signaled that the neighborhood rivalry between Oxford and Lake Orion is on again after nearly three decades.
Lake Orion spanked the Wildcats, 45-6, in the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron in 27 years. The Dragon’s victory meant they took back the Double O Trophy, which had resided in an Oxford trophy case for those 27 years.
Coach Bud Rowley said he took the trophy out recently and cleaned it up so that it can once again become the annual sign of gridiron supremacy for the victorious school.
Even though Rowley was disappointed in the game’s outcome, he was proud at the crowd turnout and support for each school.
‘This is great for the community,? he said. ‘It was phenomenal. We should not have waited 27 years for it. Unfortunately for us, we played poorly. It’s over now and we will get ready for next week.?
Oxford will host Southfield Lathrup on Friday at 7 p.m. Lathrup lost its opening game to Pontiac 26-7.
Oxford and Lathrup both play in the White Division of the Oakland Activities Association, so the game is the first league match-up for the Wildcats, who left the Flint Metro League last season. T
he beating last week at Lake Orion was disappointing for Rowley’s team but it was not unexpected considering the Dragons are considered one of the top teams in Oakland County and the state.
The game turned into the Dragons? favor early in the first quarter when Oxford failed to convert a fourth-and-one from its own 29.
Lake Orion quickly scored with 8:48 left in the quarter on a 13-yard run. The Lake Orion juggernaut then added a field goal and two more TDs by the end of the quarter for a 24-0 advantage.
The final TD of the quarter was a 71-yard pass play that culminated a 99-yard drive by the Dragons.
Lake Orion increased its lead to 31-0 at halftime and continued the onslaught in the second half.
Oxford’s only score came on an 83-yard TD run by Anthony McDugald with 57 seconds left in the third quarter.
Oxford finished with 173 yards rushing.
Junior Prescott Line led the defense from his middle linebacker spot.