By Dan Shriner
Foot Correspondent
Several of the Oxford Wildcat’s losses this season in football have been deceptive.
The Cats have often played well but have been victimized by big plays or suffered breakdowns for short periods of time.
Oxford’s play last Friday against Rochester Adams seemed to follow that trend as the Cats lost 38-14 in their annual homecoming.
This Friday, Oxford will travel to Southfield for a game that is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. The Cats are now 1-5 overall and 1-4 in the OAA White Division.
The Wildcats played very well in the first half against the Highlanders, holding them to 47 yards in offense in the first half, except for two big plays.
One of those plays was an 80-yard TD run and the other was a 60-yard pass for a score.
‘We battled in the first half and did a great job but we collapsed in the second half,? Coach Bud Rowley said. ‘But we will keep battling and working hard.?
Oxford scored first in the game, on a two-yard run by Darren Lumpkin. Matt Kitchner kicked the conversion. The TD came following a bad punt by the Highlanders that gave Oxford the ball on the Adams 28.
Rochester came back quickly following the TD, scoring on an 80-yard run. The PAT was no good and the Cats held a 7-6 lead.
Rochester then scored again on a 64-yard just before halftime. The Highlanders missed the conversion again and led 12-7 at halftime.
Adams scored on the opening drive of the third quarter that began a scoring barrage that put the Wildcats out of the game.
The next score by the Highlanders was somewhat controversial. It came when an Oxford defender and an Adams receiver went for a ball in the end zone. The Wildcat defender caught the ball and went down with it. The Highlander receiver took it away on the ground and was awarded the TD. Rochester scored 13 consecutive points in the third quarter.
Anthony Cappuccilli provided the last bit of hope for the Wildcats when he returned an interception 31 yards. Prescott Line then scored on a three-yard run. The score came at the end of the third quarter cutting the lead to 25-14.
The Highlanders then put the game away with the final 13 points of the game.
Oxford finished with 85 yards rushing and 70 passing. Cody Collier caught four passes for 38 yards. Prescott Line had 38 yards rushing and Lumpkin had 32.
Adams had 482 yards of offense, including 307 rushing and 175 passing.