It’s always tough to end the season with anything short of a championship but the Oxford Wildcats? 31-8 loss to the defending state champions Clarkston Wolves was nothing to be ashamed about.
The Wildcats were up against the number one team in the state that is riding a 23-game winning streak over the past two seasons.
The adverse weather, with gusty winds and snow, hindered any kind of aerial attack, except for one 53-yard TD pass from Glacier Wallington to Adam Schlicht in the fourth quarter. That was Oxford’s only score of the game.
Clarkston has shown it can win in the ground or air and amassed 411 yards of offense, with 380 coming on the ground. Oxford was held to only 237 yards of offense.
Clarkston, 10-0, now moves on to face Lapeer East in the district championship. Oxford finished its season 6-4.
In the first half, it looked like the Wildcats might surprise Clarkston. The Wolves scored on its opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. On Oxford’s next possession, Scott Stubenrauch had a 57-yard run down to Clarkston’s 10. The Wildcats couldn’t punch the ball over the goal line though.
Neither team scored a TD before halftime but Clarkston added a 31-yard field goal at the end of the quarter to give Clarkston a 10-0 lead.
The Wolves began clicking on the running game in the third quarter with quarterback D.J. Zezula scoring on two runs, tof six and 20 yards. On the second TD drive Zezula picked up 70 yards rushing. By the end of the quarter, Clarkston has a 24-0 lead.
The Wildcats got their only TD on the 53-yard pass from Wallington to Schlicht with 11:12 left in the third quarter. Stubenrauch added a two-point conversion. Clarkston added a final score with 7:08 left.
Stubenrauch finished with 18 rushes for 117 yards. John Patrick again led the defense with eight tackles, including six that were solo. Wallington was three-for-nine passing.
For Wallington, the game was his final appearance in a stellar four-year career for the Wildcats. He has stood out on both the offense, at quarterback and as a defensive back.