Oxford Coach Bud Rowley had a simple message Friday night for his Wildcats when they trailed Brandon 14-0 at halftime.
‘I told them they were playing not to lose and they had to play to win,? he said, following the game. ‘I told them to play as a team.?
The message was received loud and clear as the Wildcats seemed a different team in the second half, scoring 24 points and holding Brandon scoreless to take a 24-14 victory and move to 4-1.
Two big plays in the first half gave the Blackhawks their 14-0 lead. The first score came on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Burch to Derek Foyt.
The second tally came when it appeared Oxford had Brandon pinned deep in their end before Foyt broke loose on a 94-yard touchdown run.
Brandon’s Mike Cybulski kicked both conversions.
Oxford’s defense turned in another solid performance. Vinnie Ives had two interceptions, Jake Krause added another and the Cats blocked a Brandon field goal attempt in the first half.
The Wildcats offense, led by quarterback Billy Keenist, was very sharp in the second half, amassing most of its nearly 400 yards offense after intermission.
Oxford wasted no time getting their points in the third quarter, scoring on their opening drive. P.J. Whiteman got the six points on a 56-yard run, which seemed to give the team a spark. Mike Jones added he conversion.
The Wildcats? defense stopped Brandon and Whiteman quickly scored again, this time on a 23-yard run. Jones kicked his second conversion to tie the game at 14 early in the third quarter.
Oxford did not take the lead until early in the fourth quarter when Hugo Gomez scored from one yard out. Jones? conversion made it 21-14.
Jones added a 38-yard field goal to end any hopes of a Brandon homecoming comeback.
Gomez was again the workhorse for Oxford, carrying 28 times for 138 yards. Whiteman ran for 130 yards on 11 carries. Joel Grifka caught five passes for 120 yards.
Foyt rushed 15 times for 158 yards for Brandon and caught five passes for 83 yards.
The Wildcats host Lapeer West at home Friday at 7:30 p.m. Oxford is now 2-0 in the Flint Metro League, a half game behind Lapeer East, at 3-0.