Jackets feel Bulldogs’ bite
- Updated: September 20, 2014
Gamble, Webber have big games, but Oxford falls to No. 4 Opelika
Oxford’s Tre Gamble makes a leaping catch in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown Friday night. In the cover photo, Oxford quarterback Ty Webber takes a tumble against Opelika. (Photos by Greg McWilliams)
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD — Unbeaten Opelika came to Lamar Field Friday night as one of the hottest teams in the state and Oxford gave the Bulldogs all they wanted in the first half, running twice as many plays as the fourth-ranked visitors and outgaining them by more than 30 yards.
However, the Bulldogs always managed to maintain a lead and added 17 late points to pull away to a 45-21 Class 6A Region 3 victory. Oxford dropped to 2-3 and 1-2 in the region after the loss.
All four of the Yellow Jackets’ first-half possessions produced drives that went deep into Opelika territory, but they scored on only one of them. The others were stopped on downs at the 18, fumbled away at the 1 and intercepted at the 13.
Opelika roared down the field on the opening possession and scored on a 25-yard run by Josh Johnson to take a quick 7-0 lead. It stayed that way until Tre Gamble’s 8-yard run tied it with 9:17 left in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs moved back in front on a Matt Christian touchdown pass to Damarioud Hamby pass. Oxford came right back and appeared to be headed for another tying touchdown. Gamble was headed to the end zone with a Ty Webber pass, but was stripped of the ball at the 1 and Opelika recovered.
With the takeaway, the Bulldogs took a 21-7 halftime lead.
The third quarter turned into a shootout. Gamble snared a 21-yard Webber pass in the corner of the end zone to make it 21-14 with 6:19 left in the half, but Opelika quickly snuffed that momentum when Hamby went 95 yards with the ensuing kickoff to keep the margin 14.
The Jackets promptly took their sixth straight possession inside the Opelika 20 and scored on a 6-yard run by Gamble with 4:54 left in the quarter, but Opelika matched it again, this time on a 1-yard run by Reginald Bush with 47 seconds left.
The fourth quarter belonged to Opelika as the Jackets finally were stopped on a series by the Bulldogs defense. The visitors hit a 40-yard field goal that just crept over the uprights to take a 38-21 lead with six minutes to play, then added a late 7-yard touchdown pass.
Oxford pushed around the massive Opelika defensive line to pile up 352 yards. Opelika ended up with 325 yards with 112 of those yards coming in the final quarter. Going into the fourth quarter Oxford had run 62 plays to only 24 plays for the Bulldogs.
Gamble finished with 12 catches for 133 yards, 68 rushing yards on 11 carries and three touchdowns. Webber was 21 of 35 passing for 220 yards and one touchdown.
Oxf Ope
First Downs 19 13
Rushing Yds 33-95 34-174
Passing Yds 259 151
Total Yards 354 325
Completes 22-36-1 9-13-0
Fumbles Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties 8-65 7-55
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