The historic first win for Oxford in the Oakland Activities Association White Division might not have been a classic by football standards but it was a classic Wildcat victory.
The Cats? defense forced four turnovers in the third quarter and the offense capitalized on all of them to break a 7-7 halftime tie and roll to a 38-21 victory over Southfield Lathrup.
‘That was Oxford football,? Coach Bud Rowley said. ‘All the kids got to play and enjoy our first win. This was a crossroad game and an important win for us.?
On Friday, Oxford will travel to Farmington to face the undefeated Falcons at 7 p.m.
Farmington handed Rochester Adams its first league loss in 22 games last week, 21-16.
Lathrup played a strong first half, scoring the first TD of the game with only four minutes expired following an Oxford turnover on their own 28.
The Cats tied the score in the second quarter on the first of four Prescott Line touchdowns. John Kitchner kicked the conversion.
In the third quarter, the Oxford defense forced a fumble on the Chargers? 28. Line scored his second TD for a 13-7 Wildcat advantage with only 10 seconds elapsed in the quarter.
Luke Blose then intercepted a pass on Lathrup’s 34. Line’s 12-yard TD and a two-point conversion by Line game the Cats a 21-7 advantage with 6:37 left in the quarter.
A blocked punt by the Wildcat defense then set up a 34-yard field goal by Kitchner with 1:37 left.
Before the end of the quarter, Lathrup botched another punt and Oxford took over on the Chargers? nine yard line.
Line then scored his fourth TD on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Oxford a 31-7 lead.
Once again, the Wildcat defense forced Lathrup into another miscue on a punt and took over on the Chargers? 18. Matt Anger scored with 8:51 left to give the Wildcats a 38-7 advantage. Lathrup scored twice late in the game to make the final score 38-21.
Line, Anthony Cappuccilli, Blose and Aaron Stuk were among the defensive leaders for Oxford. Anthony McDugald led Oxford with 111 yards rushing on 17 carries. Line added 45 yards rushing.