A 57-yard run on the game’s first play signaled the rough defensive day in store for the Oxford Wolverines.
Bethel’s potent running game and five Wolverines turnovers proved far too difficult for Oxford to overcome as the Wildcats cruised to a 41 – 21 victory at Oxford High School.
Bethel quarterback Brandon Schmidt’s 57-yard run was the first play from scrimmage and it set the stage for an offensive show that registered 20 points in the first quarter alone. Running back Pete Gallagher completed the 2‑play drive seconds later, reaching the end zone from six yards out to stake the visitors to a 7 – 0 lead with only 27 seconds off the clock.
After recovering a fumble by Oxford quarterback Mike Giordano at the Oxford 30-yard, Bethel found the end zone again when Bethel signal caller Bill Ramirez hooked up with tight end Brian Sheridan for a 29-yard pass play.
The second of five Oxford turnovers set up the third Bethel score. A Giordano pass was tipped and intercepted by Randy Lowenadler, giving the Wildcats the ball at midfield. It took just three run plays for Bethel to reach pay dirt, the last being a 34-yard Gallagher scramble to set up a 20 – 0 advantage.
Oxford Head Coach Joe Stochmal said being beaten in the trenches by a bigger Bethel offensive line and turning over the ball was a recipe for disaster
“We tried to do some things to stop their running game and unfortunately we weren’t able to do that,” Stochmal said. “They beat us up front and that’s something that if you can’t control that line of scrimmage, you’re going to have trouble. You’re going to struggle.”
Oxford’s luck finally changed midway through the first quarter as they strung together an 11-play drive to get back into the game. A fake punt and snap directly to senior running back Nick Donofrio resulted in a 30-yard gain and gave the Wolverines the ball at Bethel’s 27-yard line. Gioradano led the charge, getting a first down on a 14-yard pass to E.J. Bachiocci and scoring on a 3‑yard quarterback keep to narrow the deficit to 13 points.
But Bethel wasn’t done. Following Gallagher’s interception of a Giordano pass at the Wildcats’ 26-yard line, Bethel kept the ball on the ground as the Wildcats methodically moved the ball 74 yards, aided in part by an Oxford penalty after a 17-yard Ramirez run. Gallagher ran the ball on the final three plays of the drive, scoring on a 1‑yard run with 28 seconds to go in the half.
Oxford nearly got those points back as senior wide receiver Matt Hovan ran the ensuing kickoff back 43 and put the ball on the Wildcats’ 40-yard line. A Giordano pass to the end zone just deflected off his receiver’s hands and Oxford would be left with a 20-point halftime deficit.
Bethel used a mixed attack on its first drive of the second half. A 43-yard Brett Parsell run moved the ball deep into Oxford territory. Ramirez and receiver Will Eisele connected twice later in the drive, including on a 15-yard strike to push the lead to 34 – 7 midway through the third quarter.
Bethel continued to make things difficult late in the game, transforming a second Oxford fumble into points. The Wildcats used a nearly exclusive running game to move 67 yards on their final scoring drive, ending it with a 12-yard Gallagher run for his fourth rushing touchdown on the day and a 41 – 7 lead.
“Everything worked for [Bethel] pretty well today. They were able to run the ball and when they needed to, they threw it and we didn’t cover it,” Stochmal said. “They were better than us up front today.”
Oxford managed to cut the deficit in its final two possessions. Giordano connected with slot receiver and sophomore backup quarterback Alex Miller on a 26-yard touchdown pass to finish a 65-yard drive and a Nick Donofrio 9‑yard run to close out a 55-yard march. Miller, who scored his first varsity touchdown on Saturday, handled the Oxford controls on the last two Wolverines possessions.
Miller said he and his teammates would work on a lot of things, including taking care of the ball in future weeks.
“It’s tough, working all week and then finally coming out to the game and not getting the way you want it,” Miller said. “It just teaches us how you have to beat the best teams.”
Oxford (2 – 3) will host Bunnell at 1 p.m. next Saturday.
