Oxford comes up short
- Updated: November 15, 2014
This time, Jackets’ rally in the final minute ends in fumble while trying to make something happen
Oxford’s Kenny Britt (23) signals touchdown as the pile unravels near the goal line Friday night. On the cover, Tre Gamble (left) prepares to take a hand off from quarterback Ty Webber. (Photos by Greg McWilliams)
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD — Unbeaten third-ranked McAdory took advantage of key Oxford mistakes to come from behind twice In the second half and hang on to edge Oxford 40-38 in a second-round playoff battle of Yellow Jackets Friday night at Lamar Field.
Oxford rolled up 439 yards of offense, but were hurt by two big fumbles and an interception. McAdory had 458 yards and were a little loose with the football, but recovered three of its own fumbles to maintain possession.
Tre Gamble had a big night for Oxford with 217 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. Ty Webb was 15 of 25 passing for 194 yards, with Jacob Cook catching 10 balls for 146 yards.
The game featured four lead changes and two ties. The scoring was that rapid fire.
Oxford led 24-20 at halftime, but McAdory recovered the second half kick-off at the Oxford 40 and quarterback Jordan Jones lofted a 29-yard touchdown pass moments later to put it up 27-24. Gamble shook off five tacklers and took it 57 yards one play later to give Oxford a 31-27 lead, its biggest lead of the half. Two plays later, speedy Shaquil Terry raced 88 yards to cut it 33-31.
Oxford was driving to match, but Webber’s pass was deflected and returned into Oxford territory. The turnover led to a 25-yard run by Jones to put McAdory up for good 40-31. Oxford finally got things going midway in the fourth quarter and put together a long drive capped by Webber’s 1-yard scoring sneak with 2:58 to play.
Oxford got the ball back with 1:28 left with the expectation of pulling another one out at the end. Webber led his team down the field only to see the drive and the season come to an end on a fumbled lateral with 45 seconds left at the McAdory 25.
McAdory (13-0) meets Spanish Fort next week in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Oxford finishes 6-6 against one of the most demanding schedules in its history.
The first half was just as wild with Oxford shredding McAdory’s second-ranked defense that had only allowed 94 points in its last 11 games. The weather was bitter cold, but both offenses were hot.
Terry broke loose on a 50-yard run on the first play of the game and Robert Cooks took an end-around sweep on the next play to score from 8 yards out.
With only 23 seconds gone in the game it looked like Oxford was in big trouble, but its tough schedule paid dividends as the home-standing Jackets bounced back with two successive long touchdown drives and take a 14-7 lead. Webber was brilliant in the drives, throwing key passes to Cook to pick up first downs, and Gamble was churning up yards as the Oxford offensive line was dominating.
Gamble scored the first touchdown on a 3-yard run up the middle. He scored again from 8 yards out to make it 14-7. His third score made it 21-14.
McAdory came back down the field and scored on a 50-yard pass from Jones to William Askew, but missed the extra point leaving it a one-point game.
After a big kickoff return by Gamble, Oxford drove and got a 25-yard field goal from Keaton Borrelli as the half expired for a 24-20 lead.
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