CLIO ? The Oxford Wildcats scored early and often en-route to a 49-12 victory over Clio in the first Flint Metro League meeting between the two teams.
As a matter of fact, Oxford recorded its first seven points of the game before the offense ever took the field.
Chris Harper had a 74-yard punt return after the Cat’s defense held Clio and forced a punt on the Mustang’s first possession. The rout was on after Oxford scored three more touchdowns in the first quarter to take a 28-6 advantage after only nine minutes of play.
The victory evened the Wildcats? record at 2-2. After the opening two non-league games in which the offense was shut down, the team has exploded to score 96 points in its last two contests.
This Friday will be the team’s homecoming against Brandon at 7 p.m. The Blackhawks are 1-1 in the Metro League and 2-2 overall. The Blackhawks lost on Friday to Linden, 35-0.
The Wildcats? three other touchdowns in the first quarter came on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Billy Keenist to Harper, an 18-yard run by Joel Fortier and a three-yard run by Sergio Schlak.
Zach Wasylyna was perfect on all seven of his conversion kicks.
Vinnie Ives had two interceptions in the opening half to stop Clio drives. His second interception came on Oxford’s two-yard line. Ives sparkled on offense, too, leading the team in rushing.
Cam Mueller also was one of the leaders on the Wildcat defense. He recorded three quarterback sacks, a knocked-down pass, a fumble recovery and eight solo tackles.
The two teams? offense output in the first half was closer than the score indicated. Clio had 120 yards in offense while Oxford rolled up 174 yards. Keenist was five-for-eight passing for 62 yards in the first half.
Coach Bud Rowley began substituting players in the first half and throughout the second half and was able to see some underclassmen perform well.
‘It was a good win and everybody played. That was important,? Rowley said.
The Wildcats started the second half the same way they scored their opening touchdown. Zach Tilley opened the half with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Ives added a second score in the quarter, on a 10-yard run.
Fortier added the final TD on a two-yard run. That final TD was set up by a 44-yard run by Jay Regan, down to the two yard line.
The Mustangs? Troy Maskelis scored the final TD of the game, on a 23-yard pass. Maskelis also scored Clio’s opening TD.
Clio finished with 198 total yards to 317 for Oxford. The Wildcats have shown a variety of effective running backs the past two games. Ives led the way against Clio with 105 yards rushing. Fortier had 66 yards and Regan added 71.