The Oxford Wildcats continuing their improved play last week, stopping Bloomfield Hills, 28-14, on a blustery Friday night.
The win improved the Wildcats? record to 3-5. They will host North Farmington on Friday in the final game of the season. The game is the OAA crossover match between the Red and White OAA teams.
But, what is more important during the improved second half of the season is the development of players, including sophomore quarterback Parker Fleming and junior running back Drake Barry, who will be expected to contribute to the team’s success in the coming season and beyond.
Against the Black Hawks on Friday, Barry had a solid game running, collecting 126 yards on 13 carries. It included a 48-yard TD run in the first quarter. He also was one of the defensive leaders.
Quarterback Fleming, meanwhile, has done a solid job running the offense after taking over the reins four games ago. He connected on 7-of-10 passes for 69 yards and a TD.
Coach Bud Rowley said he was pleased with the defense play against Bloomfield Hills and said the offense also got the job done, even though it struggled a little to find the end zone.
‘The defense played well. The offense stumbled at times but got it done. We have three wins and will keep working hard the rest of the way,? he said.
The Cats has their best rushing totals of the season, running for 344 yards. Wyatt Harden led the attack with 130 yards on 16 carries, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Ethan Williams chipped in with 74 yards rushing on 20 carries.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the first quarter on Barry’s 48 yard scamper. The extra point was no good. Bloomfield Hills took the lead two minutes later on a score and a conversion.
Oxford scored twice in the second quarter, Harden scored from nine yards out and then added a two-point conversion to put the Cats up by 7. Following a turnover by the Black Hawks, Fleming hit Darren Davenport on a 16-yard strike and Oxford led 21-7 at halftime.
Harden added a one-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Matthew Mielnicki’s conversion put Oxford up 28-7.
Bloomfield Hills added its final touchdown on a 95-yard fumble return with 4:32 left in the game.
Davenport had two receptions, which included the touchdown. Brendan Lewis snagged four passes for 20 yards.
Barry, Michael Abbott, Jermaine Etchen and Ben Nuss led the Wildcats? defense, which allowed seven points and held the Black Hawks to only 222 yards of offense. Oxford had 413 yards of offense, which included the 344 on the ground.