Three touchdown passes from Oxford sophomore Brennen Diaz to junior Jordan Biagionni helped the Wolverines achieve their fourth win this season.
Oxford High School beat Notre Dame of Fairfield at Sacred Heart University Saturday night with a score of 35 to 12.
“They gave us a coverage we could attack them with the deep ball, which is why we went with the deep ball,” Wolverines coach Joe Stochmal said.
Oxford raised its record to 4 – 2. Notre Dame dropped to 0 – 6.
Play by Play
The Wolverines scored on their first play of the game with Diaz’ 73-yard touchdown bomb to Biagionni. Diaz kicked the extra point to make it 7 – 0.
“The offensive line gave me time to throw and Jordan ran a perfect route,” Diaz said. “I missed him a couple of times. We practiced this play all week and we figured the middle of the field would be open.”
“It was a matter of running the route right” Biogionni said. “I faked going outside and I went inside instead. I was wide open and Brennen threw a perfect pass.”
For the most part, Oxford stopped the Lancers all night, except for two drives. One play the Wolverines had trouble defending was the swinging gate formation and Notre Dame exploited it in the first quarter when junior Daquan Coleman threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to a wide open senior tri-captain Kevin Harrigan. The Lancers went for two points and handed it off to sophomore Frank Zumbo, but he was tackled short of the goal line.
When Diaz wasn’t throwing to Biagionni, Oxford’s offense revolved mostly on handing it off to senior co-captain Nick Donofrio, who gained 24 yards on the ensuing drive. Diaz hit senior Nick Esteves for seven and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Biagionni, who turned Notre Dame’s defensive back into toast. Diaz’ kick made it 14 – 6.
After scoring, the Wolverines gambled and lost when they attempted an onside kick, giving the Lancers the ball on their 49. Notre Dame then marched 51 yards on 11 plays, with Coleman gaining eight on a third-and-six from the 12 on a swinging gate formation. Senior Naeem Pommills scored on a 1‑yard run and the Lancers went for two with sophomore Nigel Beckford trying to run it in, but Oxford senior Dave Samuelman tackled him short of the goal line and the score was 14 – 12, which was the halftime score.
Notre Dame had two chances to take the lead in the second half. Coleman intercepted Diaz’s pass and returned it to the Wolverine 25.
“I was down but the coach said to get past it and my teammates told me to relax and do what I’ve been doing,” Diaz said.
A Lancer illegal block in the back and Samuelman tackling Coleman for a 10-yard loss after catching a pass from Pommills ended one drive. Notre Dame then started a drive on Oxford’s 41 but junior Brian Spicer forced Coleman to fumble and although a Lancer recovered it, the play was a 12-yard loss. Senior co-captain Jon Sandor sacked Pommills for a five-yard loss to force a punt.
The Wolverines started on their 33 and Diaz immediately threw a 67-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Biagionni. Diaz’ kick made it 21 – 12.
“It was one of the nails in the coffin but Nick’s run and Marcus’ run sealed the deal,” Biagionni said.
Diaz had a 6‑yard touchdown run and following a Biagionni interception, freshman Marcus Esteves had a 6‑yard touchdown run.
“We had a rough week coming off a heartbreak loss to New Milford and the kids responded,” Stochmal said. “They deserve the victory and should be proud of themselves.”
