It was a tale of two halves for the Brandon football team in their Homecoming matchup against Oxford Sept. 24.
The Blackhawks held a 14-0 lead at the half, but couldn’t finish the job as the Wildcats came back to earn a 24-14 victory. With the win, Oxford improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Flint Metro League play, while the Blackhawks fell to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in league play.
Brandon took advantage of two big offensive plays in the second quarter to gain control of the game. Senior quarterback Andrew Burch completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to senior Derek Foyt to put the Blackhawks up 7-0.
Foyt also scored the Blackhawks? other touchdown of the game, this one on a 94-yard touchdown run, to give the Blackhawks a commanding lead. Foyt rushed for 158 yards and caught five passes for 83 yards.
The Blackhawks, who have been battling injuries on the defensive end, suffered another loss at the start of the third quarter when linebacker/fullback Zach LaFlamme left the game with a concussion.
‘That didn’t help our cause,? Brandon coach Ron Gill said.
P.J. Whiteman led the Wildcats? second-half comeback, scoring on runs of 56 and 23 yards in the third quarter to tie the contest at 14.
Hugo Gomez then put the Wildcats in front 21-14 on a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Mike Jones capped off the Oxford scoring with a 38-yard field goal.
‘You certainly have to give credit to Oxford, but you also have to give credit to our kids,? Gill said. ‘They continued to play hard.?
Burch completed 14-of-28 passes for 147 yards. Junior Matt Collier and senior Matt Rife led the Brandon defense with 11 tackles each.
After taking on Holly Oct. 1, the Blackhawks return home Oct. 8 for their final home contest of the season against Lapeer West. The Panthers are 1-4 after a 29-19 loss to Flushing Sept. 24.
‘We have to keep fighting,? Gill said as the Blackhawks enter the latter part of their schedule. ‘The schedule doesn’t get any easier. We’re pretty banged up, but at the same time, that gives some other kids a chance to step in and play.?