Oxford Coach Bud Rowley told his football team after their 37-14 victory at Holly that in order to get into the state playoffs they would need a little help from the football gods.
Unfortunately, no help came and the Wildcats ended their season at 5-4.
A 5-4 record does not guarantee a state playoff berth. A few teams with 5-4 records qualify for the playoffs under the computer scoring system and the Wildcats had to wait until Sunday to find out their fate after all the games had been played and statistics tabulated.
So, instead of what had become a familiar playoff ritual for Oxford football players and fans, became an earlier-than-hoped-for end of the season.
The Cats ended their season on a positive note, winning their final two games, including the finale at Holly.
Oxford running back Andrew Darin had the game of his life, scoring all five Oxford touchdowns on runs of 10, two, 12, 20, and four yards.
After the game, Darin credited his offensive line with opening up the holes in the Bronchos’ defense.
“They came together and did a great job. I give them the credit,” he said.
Both teams started slowly and neither was able to get on the scoreboard in the first quarter.
The Wildcats’ first scoring drive was 82 yards. Hugo Gomez did much of the work on the march, picking up first downs on runs of 17, 14 and 18 yards before Darin ran the final 10 for the first touchdown.
Jon Bailey kicked the first of three conversions to give the Cats a 7-0 lead with 4:36 before halftime.
The Wildcats struck again for a touchdown two minutes later.
The score came as the result of a bad snap from center on a Holly punt. Oxford defenders trapped the Holly kicker and the Cats took over on the Bronchos’ 13.
Darin ran the final two yards and Oxford held a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Oxford’s next score came following an interception by Brian Eldridge. After Gomez picked up 21 yards down to the 16 yards line, Darin scored from 12 yards out.
The conversion was kicked by Eddie Summers who arrived at halftime after helping the Oxford soccer team to a district championship.
Holly finally got on the board on the ensuing possession. A 31-yard pass from Holly quarterback Paul Dryer to Brad Cox was the big play on the drive and put the ball on the Wildcat’s 12 yard line.
Matt Turner scored on a two yard run and Cox ran the conversion to cut Oxford’s lead to 21-8.
The Wildcats answered with a touchdown on their ensuing possession. The big play on the drive was a 21 yard run by quarterback Kyle Rowley down to Holly’s 26.
Darin then scored on a 20-yard run with 2:33 left in the third quarter. The conversion try failed and Oxford held a 27-8 lead.
Holly then attempted a long drive of its own, marching down the field, thanks to a tipped pass that was caught by a Holly receiver who ran 64 yards before he was stopped at Oxford’s 14.
Eldridge grabbed his second interception of the game in the endzone to prevent the Bronchos from scoring.
The Wildcat offense then marched 80 yards down the field to score their final touchdown. Rowley picked up 26 yards on one carry and Darin picked up 28 yards on one carry before he scored from four yards out.
Summers’ conversion gave the Wildcats a 34-8 lead with 9:07 left in the game.
Holly came back with its final score of the season on a 79-yard touchdown pass that was tipped by one Holly receiver and caught by Cox, who ran 79 yards. The conversion failed.
Oxford’s final score of the season came on a 42-yard field goal by Summers with 5:52 left.
The Wildcats finished their season at 5-3 and 3-3 in the Flint Metro League.
Holly was 0-6 in league play and 1-8 overall.