THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Conway High School Athletics

Last week the Oxford Chargers had 14 penalties, 4 rushing yards, three turnovers, their second region loss, and a partridge in a pear tree. Friday night at Grenada High School, they still had 10 penalties, but 241 rushing yards to go along with it. They also had just one turnover, and most importantly a 34-16 victory over the home standing Grenada Chargers in the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs. Oxford coach Chris Cutcliffe was pleased that his Chargers executed throughout the game and bounced back well after the loss to Lake Cormorant. “I thought it was a great win against a really quality opponent,” Cutcliffe said. “I thought our guys competed really hard and executed in all three phases. I was really proud of how we played.” Running back Hiram Wadlington led the offensive attack for Oxford (8-4 overall) rushing the ball 27 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns on the night. Wadlington said that after having a subpar effort against Lake Cormorant last week that the Oxford coaches challenged him and his teammates to make plays against the third-best scoring defense in 5A. “Our coaches really challenged us this week,” Wadlington said. “They gave up just 13 points per game (entering the contest). The coaches kept putting that in our heads and that they had a great defense. We knew that we had to score and that our defense had to play great and that’s what happened tonight. They have a couple stars on their defense, but that didn’t matter to us. We just took it one play at a time and executed.” The game turned late in the third quarter with Oxford up just 21-16 facing a 4th-and-1 on the Greanda 45-yard line. Wadlington not only got the first down, but found a hole up the Oxford sideline and scored a touchdown to put Oxford in a comfortable 27-16 lead going down the stretch. “That was a huge play,” Cutcliffe said. “We were in a situation where in short yardage I felt good about going for it there. Our offensive line executed really well and Hiram made a huge play.” Oxford’s defense took over from there, forcing Grenada (9-3) out of their game plan from running the ball to throwing the football down by two scores. Oxford was able to force a punt and a turnover on downs before icing the game with a five-play, 28-yard drive capped by a Lance Stewart’s 2-yard run. Oxford also had a time-wasting 13 play, 65-yard drive that ended in a missed field goal, but it took more than six minutes off the fourth quarter clock. “I thought our defense played really well,” Cutcliffe said. “They really defended the run well. We did give up the long touchdown pass and that happens sometimes on 50-50 balls. Sometimes their guy gets it. Overall, particularly holding them to just three points in the second half was a big accomplishment.” Up next Oxford advances to the second round of the playoffs where the Chargers will play West Point at the friendly confines of Bobby Holcomb Field. The Chargers lost their first meeting to the Green Wave at McAlister Field by the score of 22-8. “This is a rivalry game,” Cutcliffe said. “Both teams are going to be excited and ready to play. We’ve got to have a great week of preparation. We are going to have to go out and play with even more intensity and more energy and more physically against a really good West Point team.” “If we fix the little things that we beat ourselves against West Point, then we will beat them at home,” Wadlington said. Extra Points Cornerback CJ Terrell, who played quarterback during his freshmen year while on the freshmen team, threw a touchdown pass to John Reece McClure during the second quarter. McClure finished the night 13-for-20 for 153 yards with two total touchdowns and one interception. Preston Perkins caught his first touchdown of the season during the second quarter.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Conway High School Athletics

OXFORD DEFEATS GRENADA IN BATTLE OF CHARGERS

JOHN DAVIS

Oxford Citizen | 11/13/2016

PHOTO CREDIT: Jared Redding