Oxford Coach Bud Rowley knows the state playoffs produce a different kind of football.
That’s why he knew his squad was in trouble when Davison scored two touchdowns after running only four plays from scrimmage to start the game Friday night. The 14 points were too much to overcome as the Cardinals flew to a 27-7 win and ended the Wildcats? playoff hopes.
The Davison victory avenged two prior losses to Oxford, including a 24-7 setback to the Wildcats in the second game of the year.
This game came down to missed opportunities for the Wildcats while the Cardinals capitalized on Oxford mistakes. Oxford got inside the Cardinal 20 yard line five times but came away with only one score, with 4:16 left in the game.
‘We battled all year, but if we didn’t have any bad luck, we would have had no luck,? Rowley said. ‘You can’t turn the ball over in the playoffs. Turnovers kill you and they killed us.?
The first turnover came when the Wildcats lost the opening kickoff. On the first play a pass gave the Cardinals a first down on the Oxford four-yard line. Davison’s Ruben Talley scored two plays later.
After the Wildcats took their opening drive to Davison’s 25, the Cardinals took over on downs. On the first play, Davison quarterback Brett Kenney hit Craig Hitchcock who zigzagged across the field for the 75-yard score. Kenney hit Mike Loll for the two-point conversion and the 14-0 advantage.
Davison scored on its opening drive of the third quarter, going 80 yards. Ruben Talley ran the final 27 yards for the touchdown. Following the conversion, Davison led 21-0. The Cardinals upped their advantage to 27-0 in the fourth quarter when Kenney hit Chris Lang on a 39-yard touchdown pass.
Oxford’s only score came with 4:16 left when each team was substituting players. Junior quarterback Billy Keenist led the drive while Joel Fornier and Jay Regan, all players who will likely figure into the Wildcats 2005 squad, picked up most of the yardage. Fornier ran for 43 yards on only three carries while Regan went the final 12 yards for the score. Mike Jones kicked the conversion.
Oxford’s Sergio Schlak was held in check by the Davison defense and ran for 72 yards on 13 carries. Oxford picked up only 284 yards in offense while Davison amassed 468 yards.
Rowley praised he team’s seniors following their last game, telling them they had a wonderful season.
‘You’re only as good as your seniors and ours are great kids,? Rowley said.

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