SOUTHFIELD ? Sometimes you just forget about a game and move on.
The Oxford Wildcats learned that lesson last week when nothing went right and Southfield turned six turnovers into points en route to a 49-7 rout.
The Blue Jays played their school’s best game of the season, and got their first home victory of the year, in their homecoming.
Oxford couldn’t overcome its mistakes. Those miscues included three lost fumbles, two interceptions, a blocked punt and even a safety that led to 35 points for Southfield.
This week will be Oxford’s turn to shine at its homecoming against Southfield Lathrup. The Wildcats are 3-3 overall and must win their final three games of the season to clinch a state playoff berth. The team could still make the playoffs with five wins.
In two weeks, Oxford will host Oak Park, a team that is undefeated in the Oakland Activities Association White Division. With the loss to Southfield, Oxford dropped to a third place tie with Southfield and Farmington Hills Harrison.
Southfield took a lead early in the game after recovering an Oxford fumble on the 10. The Blue Jays scored on a 10 yard pass and then continued to press going up 19-0 before Oxford put together a very impressive drive.
The Wildcats? only TD drive of the game came in the second quarter when they had a nice 79-yard drive.
Tailback Liam Logan gained 61 of those yards before Zack Hadorn ran the final five yards for the score.
Following Josh Nelson’s conversion, Oxford trailed 19-7.
The team has shown some second-half resilience in recent weeks, so a comeback seemed possible. But continued mistakes doomed the Cats as Southfield continued to show a very strong passing attack.
The Blue Jays had 216 yards passing and 157 rushing while Oxford had only 95 yards rushing and 35 passing.