Lost opportunities doomed the Oxford Wildcats last week in their second-place showdown with West Bloomfield.
The Lakers? defensive front twice shut down Coach Bud Rowley’s Wildcats inside the one yard line to shutout Oxford, 21-0.
The loss dropped Oxford to 5-2 on the season and kept it one win away from a state playoff berth.
Oxford will seek to secure the playoffs in a game on Friday at Bloomfield Hills High School. The following week, the Cats will play a crossover game against an OAA White Division opponent in the final game of the season before playoffs.
West Bloomfield twice stopped Oxford inside the one yard line on fourth down and goal. On the first, a ball was fumbled and went out of the end zone. In the second, the large and athletic Lakers defensive front stopped the Wildcats in the third quarter three times inside the two yard line to take over on downs.
A touchdown by the Wildcats either time would have tied the score or edged Oxford to within seven points.
West Bloomfield scored its opening TD with 7:38 left in the first quarter. They added a second score at 7:09 of the second quarter. They added the final tally with 8:31 left on a 78-yard run.
The Lakers for the most part beat Oxford at its own style of game ? a physical running attack. They amassed 358 yards of offense to 180 for the Wildcats.
Oxford had only 112 yards rushing for the game with Scott Stubenrauch netting 50 yards on 26 attempts.
Quarterback Glacier Wallington had 68 yards passing with 52 of those by Adam Schlicht.