Few things have come easy for Coach Bud Rowley’s 2009 Wildcats.
The team’s last season in the Flint Metro League has been hard-fought with the Cats clawing for each victory.
A 17-9 loss last week to Swartz Creek dropped the Wildcats to 4-3 overall and means they must win their final two games of the year to get six wins and guarantee to qualify for the state playoffs.
To get the guaranteed berth the Cats must beat an undefeated Linden team this week at home at 7 p.m. and then beat Holly in the final game of the year.
Oxford went up quickly at Swartz Creek.
Gary Wurtz and Gabe Grifka combined to collar a Swartz Creek runner in the end zone for a safety with barely three minutes expired.
Oxford struck again quickly on a one yard TD by Prescott Line at the 6:47 mark. The TD was set up by a 46-yard run by quarterback Zac Miller.
Matt Versteeg’s extra point gave the Wildcats a 9-0 advantage.
Swartz Creek’s first score came at the 6:06 mark of the second quarter when Dragon defenders blocked an Oxford punt and recovered the ball on the Cat’s 15.
The Dragons settled for an 18-yard field goal after they failed to get into the end zone.
Swartz Creek held the lead in the game at the 6:15 mark of the third quarter. A 35-yard pass to Oxford’s nine yard line was followed by a 9-yard TD. The conversions put Creek on top, 10-9.
The Dragons put the game out of reach with 4:48 left in the game on a 37 yard run. The conversion made it 17-9 and gave Swartz Creek its first-ever victory over Oxford.
Oxford finished with only 158 yards in offense as its runners found the muddy field difficult to get a running game going.
Swartz Creek had 189 yards in offense.
Zac Miller led Oxford with 70 yards rushing and Gabe Grifka had 25 yards.