This afternoon, for the first time ever, the Oxford High School football team will really feel like the home team.
Friday afternoon’s game between the Oxford Wolverines and the Stratford High School Red Devils marks the first ever for Oxford on its campus, within town limits.
The game will be played at 3:30 p.m. at the multipurpose field west of the high school building. Kickoff was originally scheduled for Saturday, but forecasts calling for heavy rain over the weekend prompted the change in plans.
The Wolverines played their home games last season at Pomperaug High School in Southbury. The 2007 team, playing as a junior varsity outfit, played all of its games on the road.
First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers plans to take part in a ceremonial coin toss prior to the game. The First Selectman, who attended several football games last season, said residents are excited to see the school’s gridiron gang playing within town borders.
“It’s a feeling of pride. The whole high school facility is one that all of the residents can be proud of,” Drayton-Rogers said. “It’s something the residents and the Booster Club have looked forward to. We don’t have to feel like we’re visitors on our field.”
Oxford High School Principal Frank Samuelson said he has heard plenty of talk among students and residents about the first game.
Based on the attendance at the team’s first two games at Notre Dame-Fairfield and nearby Masuk High School, Samuelson said he expects the team to have solid attendance for its five home games.
The field has already hosted Oxford boys and girls soccer games.
“This is something a lot of people in town have waited a long time for. It’s giving them something to support and cheer for,” he said. “Good things happen when people are united and kids have something to work for.”
Head Coach Joe Stochmal said his Wolverines (1 – 1) are happy about finally playing their first contest without having to board a bus.
“The kids are excited to be playing at home,” Stochmal said.
“It’s the first time in the school’s history, so we want to try and set a good tone and start a little tradition of defending our home turf.”
Fans expecting a seat at the game will probably need to bring lawn chairs, because there are no bleachers and no press box.
The multipurpose field is part of an $800,000 expenditure approved by voters two years ago. It was originally supposed to be used for practices, but school officials decided to use the field for fall outdoor sports.
Town and school officials are still hoping to build a larger multipurpose field for football and other outdoor sports.
Because there are no lights, the first four home games will be played on afternoons, said Oxford Athletic Director Glenn Lungarini. But he’s hoping to have lights in place in time for a night game on Nov. 25 against Pomperaug, the final game of the season.
As for Friday’s game, Lungarini said the home opener is “the culmination of six years of hard work” by school officials and the Oxford High School Building Committee, which worked to build the school.
“We’re grateful for the people who were able to get the fields complete and to give the kids a chance to play,” he said.
Stochmal said although the team is excited about the first home game, the players have remained even keel. While there will be plenty of attention from fans and media prior to the game,
Stochmal expects the Wolverines to remember the task at hand — beating Stratford.
“All of that (hoopla) fades into the background once the game starts,” he said.
