It’s doubtful that in the long history of Michigan high school football there have been three more exciting games played in consecutive years played by two conference rivals.
The Oxford and Linden games have been thrilling games right down to the end for the past three seasons, all decided in overtimes.
The 2005 Oxford and Linden football game was called by many the best high school football game they ever saw.
That epic game, which was won in triple overtime, 36-35, by Linden, didn’t have much over the match-up on Friday which saw Linden win in overtime 52-46.
In 2004 it was a double overtime tilt that Oxford won, 21-20, in a heavy downpour.
The Linden victory clinched the Flint Metro League title for the Eagles, who finished the year at 9-0. A victory by Oxford would have given the Wildcats a share of the FML title but the team settled for a second-place tie in league play.
Oxford opens up its state playoff season this week by visiting Holly at 7 p.m. Friday. The surprising Bronchos finished in a second-place tie with Oxford. The Wildcats beat Holly, 14-10, in the opening game of the year for both teams and the Bronchos lost only one other game all season, to Linden.
The Linden-Oxford game expected to be a little more of a defensive match-up. Linden had the best offensive team in the league but the Wildcat defense was surrendering only about eight points per game on average against FML opponents.
But, what happened was that Linden quarterback Dustin Mayner had the most prolific game for a signal caller in FML history.
Mayner set an all-time league record with 364 yards passing and five touchdowns. He also ran for 140 yards and three more touch downs, which accounted for all eight Eagles scores.
Mayner, who is a three-year starter for Linden, finished his FML career with only one league loss, the 2004 double-overtime defeat to Oxford.
The Eagles racked up 613 total yards in the game, with Mayner accounting for 504 of it passing and running. The Wildcats also had their best offensive output of the season, with 46 points and 432 total yards. The combined total yardage for both teams was an incredible 1,045. Linden looked early like they might run away with the game. The Eagles opened up a 20-3 lead late in the second quarter.
The Wildcats came back very quickly. It began when Mayner fumbled and Oxford recovered inside the Eagles 30. Vinnie Ives scored on a one-yard run with 1:53 left before halftime to cut the lead to 20-9.
The Cat defense held Linden on the ensuing drive and Joel Fortier blocked a punt with under 20 seconds left. On the first play following the turnover, quarter back Jeremy Bukoski hit Eric Shipman on 22-yard pass with only six seconds left. Ives ran for a two-point conversion and Linden lead was suddenly only 20-17.
The Wildcats held onto the momentum in the third quarter. Barely two minutes into the quarter, Ives turned an option play into a 92-yard touch down run, which was the longest run from scrimmage this season for Oxford. The extra point kick by Don Pohl gave the Cats a 24-20 lead.
The Eagles came back quickly, scoring on a 65-yard pass from Mayner to Brandon Green less than one minute later to put Linden back on top 26-24 after a missed conversion. But Ives gave Oxford the lead again with a 19-yard run with 6:05 left in the quarter. Pohl conversion made the score 31-26.
Linden added the next two touchdowns, on passes of 8 yards and 31 yards by Mayner. The Eagles missed one two-point conversion on the first score but added a kicked conversion on the second to take a 39-31 advantage after three quarters.
Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats came back again. Zach Line scored on a 24-yard run and Ives added a two-point conversion to knot the score at 39-39. Mayner put the Eagles on top with 5:55 left in the game on a 13-yard run. The conversion kick was good and Linden led 46-39.
The Bukoski-led Oxford offense would not back down and connected on a 41-yard touch down pass on a fourth down and three yards to go to John Logan with only 3:05 remaining. Pohl kick tied the game at 46-46.
Linden marched down the field and could have won the game in regulation but missed 29-yard field goal attempt with only seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. In overtime, each team is given the ball at the 10-yard line and has four downs to try and score. Oxford took possession first. On the first play, Zach Line went eight yards to the two. Suddenly, Linden’s defense stiffened and stopped the Cats on three consecutive runs.
Linden then took over on the 10-yard line. The Wildcat defense dropped Mayner for a loss on Linden first play but he hit Chad Pougnet on an 11-yard pass to end the game. Ives led the Oxford offense with 159 yards, three touchdowns and a two-point run. Line carried for 113 yards and a score.
Bukoski completed seven of 10 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Mayner for a loss on Linden first play but he hit Chad Pougnet on an 11-yard pass to end the game. Ives led the Oxford offense with 159 yards, three touchdowns and a two-point run. Line carried for 113 yards and a score. Bukoski completed seven of 10 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.