Linden staked its claim on the Flint Metro League title last week with a 28-14 come-from-behind win over Oxford.
The Eagles scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to send the Wildcats to their third Metro League loss. Linden remained undefeated at 7-0 and 4-0 in league play.
Oxford’s final two games are on the road, including Friday at Fenton and the following week at Holly.
The Wildcats held Linden’s strong running game to a minimum in the first half but couldn’t contain in it the final 24 minutes. Linden senior Phil Conyer rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns to secure the win.
Oxford opened the scoring in the first quarter with a solid 79-yard drive. Andrew Darin supplied the biggest gain on the drive, a 26-yard run. Wildcat quarterback Kyle Rowley then hit Steve Flores with a 24-yard TD pass with 1:58 left in the quarter.
Kicker Eddie Summers’ extra point kick failed when the Cats were penalized and the kick was wide from the 22 yard line.
Linden’s next drive moved quickly downfield but was thwarted when Jake Krause recovered a fumble to give Oxford possession on its own 26.
After a stalled Oxford drive, Linden again got the ball and scored on that possession. Conyer scored on a 17-yard run and Andrew Chiatalis kicked the first of his four conversions to give the Eagles a 7-6 lead.
Oxford took the ensuing kickoff and made another 79-yard drive to re-take the lead before halftime. The drive was one of the team’s best of the year.
Rowley led the team downfield with pinpoint passing and timely running by Oxford’s backs. The drive included two pass completions from Rowley to David Reile, including one of 23 yards.
The touchdown came when Rowley scrambled to his right and hit Flores in the endzone with a 10-yard strike. Rowley then ran in the two-point conversion for a 14-7 lead with 37 seconds left before halftime.
The Eagles’ running attack got stronger in the second half, leading to 21 unanswered points.
Linden scored with 6:11 remaining in the third quarter after a good punt return by Conyer gave Linden the ball on the Wildcat’s 36. On the first play, Conyer ran around the left side for a score to tie the game at 14.
The Eagles then recovered a Wildcat fumble on Oxford’s 38 and began what proved to be the winning drive. Conyer and running back Jeff Krause combined to pick up most of the yards on the drive before Conyer scored on a six-yard run.
Linden tallied another seven points early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Kevin Berry ran in from 14 yards to give the Eagles a 28-14 lead.
The Wildcats did not give up and began using a shotgun and no-huddle offense. The team appeared headed for a score midway through the final quarter when they drove to Linden’s six yard line.
Two penalties moved the ball back to the 26. A fourth down pass attempt to Flores was incomplete and Linden took over.
The Eagles’ solid ground attack kept possession of the ball and the team drove down the field to the Wildcat’s one yard line before penalties moved them back. The big play on the drive came when Conyer picked up 24 yards, down to the eight yard line, when Linden had a fourth down and 22 yards to go for a first down.
The Eagles were able to run out the clock and prevent any Wildcat comebacks.
Rowley was 13-of-22 passing for 122 yards and the two touchdowns to Flores. Conyer led his team with 195 yards rushing, and three touchdowns on 22 carries.
The 195 yards is the most yardage given up by the Wildcat defense to a running back this season.