First 'complete' game for Oxford football leads to win over high flying Saints

OXFORD – The Oxford varsity football team 'Cruz'd' to solid all around win for on the season, as they topped the Seton Catholic Saints 42-12.
In a much anticipated matchup on Saturday, Sept. 24, between the Oxford Blackhawks – and their hard nosed defense and ground game – and the Seton Catholic Saints – and their prolific passing attack on offense – it was all Oxford who took a commanding lead in the first half before finishing off the game to emerge victorious moving their record to 2-2 on the season.
Oxford head coach Jeff Newton gave much praise to his defense who stepped up to shut down Seton's lead receivers Giangrieco and Ragsdale who have already amassed over 700 yards and 16 touchdowns between the two.
“It was really a defensive effort this week. We knew their receivers were really good, we put a lot of pressure on our d' backs this week and they did a nice job,” said coach Newton. “And our front four gave them a lot of pressure.”
Oxford would take 15-0 lead into the halftime break of their homecoming game, following a first quarter score from from quarterback Chris Martin who ran a 20 yard touchdown – followed by a Rece Camadine extra point.
This 7-0 lead in the first turned into 15-0, when Martin connected with Mickerson Clune for a five yard passing touchdown in the second quarter – followed by Xavier Cruz who tacked on the two point conversion.
Oxford proceeded to play solid defense holding Giangrieco and Ragsdale to no scores in the first half.
“We were all fired up there in the second half,” said coach Newton. “Second half we played one of our best football games of the season.”
Youngster Xavier Cruz returned to full form on Saturday night when he found the end zone for the first time in the third quarter off a 16 yard run to open up scoring in the second half – Cruz would run in his own two point conversion.
Now ahead 23-0, Martin would find the end zone once more in the game when he wheeled himself in from one yard out – extra point kick good from Camadine.
Up 30-0, it was then that the Blackhawks would slip up slightly, leading to consecutive scores from Giangrieco of the Saints.
Xavier Cruz would fumble the ball on the Seton 45 yard line, as Giangrieco would scoop and score for the Seton Saints off the fumble recovery – extra point no good.
Using the spark, Seton's quarterback Dan Crowley would connect with Giangrieco for the passing touchdown to close out the third quarter.
Still up 30-12, the Blackhawks would regroup before emerging for a once again dominant fourth quarter giving their hometown crowd a show.
A 10 yard rushing touchdown and a 32 yard run from lineman/fullback Dakota Fridel would close out the game, drawing the score to 42-12.
“This was the first week we actually put everything together. One of the things I told them prior to the game is 'offense you need to execute, and defense you need to do your job.' Sure enough they actually came together and did it,” said coach Newton.
In the win Oxford's Martin would complete 3-5 on passing for 43 yards and a touchdown.
On the ground a dominate young running back, Cruz would power the Blackhawk offense with 214 yards on the ground off of 25 carries for a touchdown and a fumble. Cruz was followed on the ground by Chris Martin 12 for 60 yards and two touchdowns, Jon Heggie who went four for 43 yards with a touchdown, Hunter Davenport who went eight for 21 yards, Buster Crandall who went two for 16 yards, and Dakota Fridel who had a lineman’s dream going three for 42 and a touchdown.
In the air, Heggie would grab one catch for 18 yards, while Rece Camadine would snag one for 20 yards, and Clune would grab one for five yards and a touchdown.
Defensively Heggie and Camadine would shine producing three turnovers off of interceptions – Camadine with two and Heggie with one.
No individual statistics were provided for Seton Catholic.
Oxford (2-2) and with some fire now coming off this latest statement win will head to undefeated Harpursville-Afton (4-0) this coming Saturday, Oct. 1, at 1:30 p.m., as two smash-mouth ground games collide.
“Last two meetings they (Harpursville-Afton) beat us by three points each year, we're right there with them every year,” said coach Newton. “I expect it to be the same battle it is every year, so we're going to war on Saturday.”

O: 7 8 15 12 – 42
S: 0 0 12 0 – 12

Karri Beckwith Photo

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