It is rare that Bud Rowley’s Oxford Wildcats are held scoreless.
But Lapeer West, in the final regular season meeting between the two rivals, shutout the Cats, 17-0, last week.
The game was closer than a 17-0 score would indicate. Most of the game saw West holding a 3-0 advantage before scoring twice late in the contest.
The Panthers got their three points on their opening drive of the game, on a 27-yard field goal.
They used up more than seven minutes of the clock on the drive.
Oxford drove to West’s seven-yard line in the second quarter but penalties pushed them back and a 39-yard field goal attempt by Matt Versteeg was short.
A very solid West defense held Oxford to 150 rushing yards and no passing yardage, with only six first downs for the game. West had 16 first downs and 367 total yards of offense.
Oxford’s defense played very well, led by Austin Westmoreland, Matt Anger, Gary Wurtz, Gabe Grifka and Matt Economou.
A couple of turnovers in the game hurt the Wildcats.
West’s first TD came on a 40-yard pass on the first play following an interception on the Wildcats? 40. The TD came with 3:34 left in the third quarter.
Near the end of the third quarter, the Cats recovered a fumble on a punt on West’s 22-yard line. Oxford drove to West’s seven but then turned the ball over on a fumble.
West scored their final TD following a long drive with 5:43 left in the game.
Bart Nolde led Oxford with 71 yards rushing. Vito Giannola ran for 28 yards and Zac Miller for 21.
Oxford will host Fenton on Friday at 7 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium.