Even though the Oxford Wildcats lost to undefeated West Bloomfield, 47-28, last week, the team showed why it is the most-improved team in the OAA Red Division over the second half of the season.
The Wildcats offense has shown spark in the last three games, which have coincided with the starting of sophomore quarterback Parker Fleming and an offense that has added some passing to complement Oxford’s traditional running game.
In its first four games of the season, Oxford averaged 5 points per game. In its last three games, the Cats have averaged 33.1 points per game.
And even though Oxford lost on Friday to one of the top teams in the state, the Wildcats scored more points against the Lakers than any other OAA Red Division team has done this year, which includes a 35-21 win over Clarkston and a 27-0 shutout of Lake Orion.
Even though West Bloomfield won by 19 points over Oxford, their victory was hardly a blowout.
Oxford held a 14-7 lead after the first quarter. After the Lakers scored first, Fleming connected on a 49-yard TD pass to Devon Davenport and on the next series hit a 35-yard pass to Davenport down to the one yard line. Wyatt Harden went the final yard with 11 seconds left in the quarter.
Matthew Mielnicki’s two conversions gave Oxford the 14-7 advantage after 12 minutes.
The Lakers then apparently woke up and put up 19 points in the second quarter, to take a 26-14 halftime advantage.
On the first play of the third quarter, the Lakers administered a back-breaker. A Laker defender scooped up a Wildcat fumble and ran 34 yards to give West Bloomfield a 33-14 lead.
Both teams scored 14 points in the third quarter and the Lakers got the only TD in the fourth.
Harden scored both TDs in the third quarter for Oxford, on runs of 35 and 22 yards. Harden finished with 107 yards and 21 carries. Drake Barry had 84 yards rushing on 15 carries.
Fleming was 5-for-12 passing for 118 yards. Davenport had three catches for 95 yards.
Oxford had 334 yards of offense, which is the most allowed by West Bloomfield against any other OAA Red opponent this season.
Ethan Kerin, Drake Barry, Marcus Perkins and Ethan Williams led the Wildcat’s defense.
Oxford will host Bloomfield Hills this week in a 7 p.m. game.