Oxford’s state football playoff 6-0 victory over Holly on Friday was not a walk on the beach, even if it appeared as though the teams were playing on one.
The rainy weather prompted Holly officials to dump massive amounts of sand on the field in an apparent effort to keep muddy conditions to a minimum. It didn’t work.
Portions of the field had three to five inches of mostly sand combined with mud to make running very difficult. But, the Cat’s slogged their way to a win and in the state playoffs that’s really all that matters.
This Friday the Wildcats will travel to Davison to meet the 10-0 Cardinals. The game will start at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Oxford High School office on Friday after 12 noon.
Neither the Wildcats nor Bronchos had effective running or passing games but each played ball control for large portions of the game. Holly, in fact, held the ball for the entire third quarter while marching down the field only to be stopped on the Cat’s five yard line and then missing a 23-yard field goal.
Coach Bud Rowley said it was the turning point.
‘Our defense played great on the goal line stand and have been carrying us all season,? he said.
After taking possession following the missed field goal, Oxford controlled the ball for the next six minutes and marched 80 yards for the only score.
Vinnie Ives had several key runs in the drive, including a 14-yard carry down to the one. Jeremy Bukoski then ran a quarterback sneak on the next play for the only score of the game with 5:06 remaining.
Holly tried to mount a comeback but a 12-yard quarterback sack followed by an interception by Zach Tilley with 37 seconds left sealed the win for Oxford.
Ives seemed to be one of the few players who could run in the slop. He had 81 yards on nine carries. The Cats totaled 184 yards for the game while Holly had only 150.
‘Conditions were not good. This wasn’t fair to either team,? Rowley said.
But a win is a win and the Wildcats are 7-3 and will take them any way they can get them.