Oxford Football Coach Bud Rowley is legendary for always having his teams ready for any foe.
Entering his 30th season at Oxford’s helm, Rowley is confident his squad will be ready but said there is more work than usual needed during the next two weeks before the first game on Aug. 28 when Clio comes to Wildcat Stadium.
The Wildcats have only three starters from offense and three from defense returning from last year’s team, which won a share of the Flint Metro League for the second consecutive season and finished with an 8-2 record.
Obviously, a third consecutive title is part of the team’s goals this season, but it will be the last opportunity for an FML championship as Oxford is joining the Oakland Activities Association next season.
Rowley said the team’s pre-season practice and scrimmages will be more important this year than in some prior seasons when there was a larger senior presence on the team and more returning starters.
‘We have a lot of ground to make up and a short time to learn positions,? Rowley said. ‘We’re going to be young but we will be okay.?
Despite having only three returning players on each side of the ball, two of the offensive returnees will be in the backfield. A.J. Logan and Prescott Line will be the team’s running backs and will be potent offensive forces. Logan also will play in the secondary on defense.
Line started the second half of the season last year as a freshman at fullback and showed that he has tremendous potential. Rowley said he also plans to play Line at middle linebacker.
The quarterback slot ‘is wide open,? Rowley said.
Senior Zac Miller and sophomore Vito Giannola are each being given the opportunity to win the spot and Rowley said each has been playing hard in the pre-season.
‘They are sharing reps and competing,? he said.
Casey Cervantez will start on both the offensive and defensive lines. He started part of the season last year on the offense and is the third returning starter.
As a senior, Rowley said he expects Cervantez to be one of the leaders of the team.
Gary Wurtz, Gabe Grifka and Aaron Stuk are the returning players on defense.
Wurtz was a safety last season and will be one of the leaders on defense this season, Rowley said. He will also see action as a running back when needed.
Grifka was a safety last season also and will be a wide-out on offense. Both are seniors and will be among the team’s leaders, Rowley said.
Stuk started last season as an outside linebaker as a sophomore and will be there again this year.
Rowley said there have been several players who are stepping up and showing they are ready to lead the Wildcats this season. Senior Scott McIsaac will play center and ‘has been doing a great job so far,? Rowley said.
Robert Moss and Matt Anger are expected to contribute a great deal on defense and have looked good so far in the pre-season.
Junior Dan Strzelecki will be one of the anchors on both the offensive and defensive lines, Rowley said. Curtis Pulliam and Nick Hadorn will be key figures on the offensive line.
Senior Matt Versteeg will return as the team’s kicker and Rowley said he expects a great season from him.
Rowley, as always, is excited about the season and what he said is a great mix of sophomores, juniors and seniors.
‘We have some experience and leadership among our players and they have been successful,? he said.
Oxford is 16-2 in the last two seasons and 23-4 over the past three years competing against Flint Metro League teams. There have been some solid rivalries developed in the past several years, especially against Linden, Lapeer West and Lapeer East.
Rowley said he expects Fenton to be very good this year, as well as West and Linden. The Tigers handed Oxford its only regular season loss last year.
‘They will all be tough but we will be ready.?