Even though the Oxford Wildcats ended their football season with a loss in the opening round of the state playoffs, Coach Bud Rowley told his seniors they had a great season.
The Cats shared the Flint Metro League title for the second consecutive year and finished at 8-2.
Rowley told his subdued team following a 42-21 loss to visiting Flushing that he was proud of the jobs the seniors did all season.
‘The seniors led the way for us and did a great job all year,? he said.
In the losing effort to the Raiders, the hard-hitting Wildcats were in the game until the fourth quarter. Flushing scored all of its 21 points in the second half off three Oxford turnovers to put the Cats away.
Flushing led, 28-21, midway through the fourth quarter, when disaster struck the Wildcats.
First, there was a fumble inside Oxford’s 25. The Raiders capitalized with a TD run of two-yards with 3:36 left in the game. Only 17 seconds later, a Flushing defender returned his second interception of the night 32 yards for a backbreaking score.
Flushing jumped to a 14-0 lead early in the game before the Wildcats scored twice in the second quarter to tie the game at 14.
Nick Tombrella put Oxford on the scoreboard with a 61-yard run midway through the second quarter. Prescott Line scored on a one-yard run less than three minutes later.
The Raiders added a third TD before halftime to lead 21-14 at intermission.
A 61-yard interception return for a TD in the third quarter, gave the Raiders a 28-21 lead. Line scored on a 6-yard pass to cut the lead to 7 points with 1:47 left in the third quarter.
But, two more Raider TDs off Wildcats? turnovers led to the Cat’s demise.
Tombrella rushed 15 times for 117 yards and one score. Austyn Sylva ran 14 times for 54 yards and Line ran 11 times for 38 yards and the two scores. Matt Versteeg kicked all three conversions for the Wildcats.
Oxford out-rushed Flushing, 209 yards to 203. The Raiders used a strong passing attack to net 129 yards in the air while Oxford had 53 passing yards.