OXFORD - After an impressive win last week against Bainbridge-Guilford, the Oxford Blackhawks were in for a true test when Walton came to play under the lights Friday, September, 11. In an impressive showing Walton beat Oxford on their home field 42-14.
Starting off the game Oxford won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball. Taking it from their own 35 yard line, the game started with a huge Walton sack and a Blackhawks penalty, making it a long second and almost 30 for Oxford. The very next play Oxford quarterback Angelo Gonzalez dropped back to pass, only to have a Walton defender jump in front of his intended target and pick the ball off.
Now it was Walton's turn to get some offense going. Starting first and goal from the Oxford nine yard line, Walton powered through the Blackhawk defense and scored on their second play from scrimmage. Running it straight up the middle, Walton scored on a run from one yard out and successfully completed the two point attempt to make the game now 8-0 Walton with just under ten minutes to go in the first quarter.
After another short Walton kick off, Oxford began their second drive on their own 39 yard line. This drive the Oxford offense found themselves against a wall of Walton defenders, only gaining yardage on a two yard run by Xavier Cruz. Forced to punt, Oxford was now on the defensive side of the ball on the Walton 29.
Walton was a team that would grind out plays and mostly run between the tackles, earning four or five yard gains the majority of the time. Like a well oiled machine Walton marched their way down field to the Oxford three yard line. Now first and goal, Walton quarterback Blake Hitt stepped back to pass and found Derek Mead on a short pot pass in the end zone for the second score of the night. After a failed two point attempt the score was now 14-0 Walton Warriors with just over 30 seconds left in the quarter.
Oxford received another Walton kick and only rattled off two plays before time ran out and the second quarter began.
After switching sides of the field, the Blackhawk offense was again shut down by a stalwart Walton D. Oxford again had to punt and gave Walton the ball on their own 23 yard line. This time the Warriors started off their drive with two big runs by Christian Rutherford to bring the ball up to their own 46 yard line. After Rutherford's runs it was business as usual for the Warriors, sharing the ball between a multitude of backs, their small gains were capped off by a 23 yard run up the middle by Derek Mead. Mead's run would set up a score from two yards out by Dawson Beers on the ensuing play. Oxford again stopped the two point attempt to bring the score to 20-0 Walton with 6:40 left in the half.
Walton's kick was again short and recovered by the Blackhawks on their own 45 yard line. After two incomplete passes it was third and ten on their own 45. Gonzalez again dropped back to pass who hit his target, junior receiver Rece Camadine, only to have two Walton defenders rip the ball out of Camadine's hands for the interception.
Walton started off their short drive on their own 34 yard line only to fumble the ball and have it recovered by Oxford's Garyn Huntley. The 6'7'' defensive end scooped up the ball and brought it all the way down to the Walton one yard line. On their second play from scrimmage Nick Neer would be given the ball on a sweep to the right side of the field for a touchdown. Scoring the touchdown and kicking the extra point Neer would give Oxford their first seven points of the game.
With the score now 20-7 Walton, Oxford appeared to be closing the gap. The Warriors started their ensuing drive on their won 37 yard line and it was business as usual. Walton drove down the field with machine like precision, chopping up small runs and eating up the clock. With time winding down in the second quarter Walton took at time out with a second and goal on the Oxford four yard line. It would be Beers again who took the four yard run up the middle in for another score. This time the two point attempt was good and the score was 28-7 with just a few seconds left in the half.
Oxford took the kick off and only got off two plays before the half ended. Making the score still 28-7 to start the second half of play. Oxford now kicking, attempted an onsides kick which ended up being recovered by Walton on the Oxford 49 yard line. Walton again marched down the field and scored on a long time consuming drive. Beers took the ball in from 14 yards out for his third score of the night. The two point attempt was again good and Walton was now up 36-7 with 8:10 left in the third.
In the second half Oxford couldn't get any offense going early and had no answer for a physical Walton defensive line. The Blackhawks would drive down field a little, only to turn over downs on the Walton 32.
Walton this time would cap off three smaller runs with a 49 yard touchdown run by Mead. After a failed two point attempt Walton was now up 42-7 with 1:43 left in the third quarter and the game was seemingly out of reach.
To start out the fourth quarter Cruz took one to the house from ten yards out to give Oxford their second score of the game. After a successful PAT the score was 42-14. The score would stay that way for the rest of the game, giving Walton the win. "It was disappointing," said Oxford coach Jeff Newton. "We knew Walton was going to be a tough and physical team going in and they showed that toughness. The only thing we can do now is learn from our mistakes and get ready for next week"
Oxford plays next week when they are home against Harpursville/Afton on Friday, September, 18.
Oxford statistics: Passing; Angelo Gonzalez, 3-12, 73 yards, 3 INTS. Receiving; Trent Lyons 2-28, Nick Neer 1-45. Rushing; Nick Neer 8-30, 1 TD. Xavier Cruz 5-23 TD. Garrett Sylstra 3-1. Angelo Gonzalez 3 - -6. Totals; Passing 73 yards, 3 INTS. Receiving; 73 yards. Rushing, 98 yards, 2 TDs.