As the outcome of Wednesday night’s game became academic, Mike Giordano and the rest of the seniors on the Oxford Wolverines football team began to think about what could have been – and how far they’d come.
The Wolverines had hoped to send their seniors, the school’s first ever class, out in style with a triumph over undefeated Pomperaug. But the might of the Panthers and their strong running game eventually took over, sending the Wolverines to a 34 – 15 defeat.
Oxford managed to keep the game close in the first half, allowing just one score to the Panthers in the first half. courtesy of a 31-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Clements to running back Ben Crick on the Panthers’ first possession of the second quarter.
Oxford’s first half deficit could have been worse if not for the heroics of senior Jim Bistyga, who blocked Kevin Foley’s three-point try as time expired on the first half.
The game changed in the second half as Pomperaug’s running game finally registered big gainers. Crick, the Panthers’ leading back, was used heavily on Pomperaug’s first possession of the second half, carrying the ball five times for 38 yards on a 53-yard scoring drive. Crick finished the drive with a 4‑yard touchdown run, staking the Panthers to a 13 – 0 lead with 9:17 remaining in the third quarter.
Oxford finally found its way into the end zone courtesy of an 8‑play, 80-yard drive, highlighted by Giordano hooking up with fellow senior Matt Hovan on a 55-yard pass play to put the ball on Pomperaug’s 28-yard line. Running back Deven Diaz polished off the drive with a 2‑yard touchdown run. The missed extra point try kept Oxford’s deficit at seven.
Then came the backbreaker.
Crick shook off several tackles after taking a handoff at the Panthers’ 26 and raced past the Wolverines for a 74-yard touchdown run. In a matter of just 25 seconds, the Panthers’ lead jumped back out to 14 points.
Oxford could not respond on its next two possessions, first turning the ball over after failing to convert a 4th down and 7 at the Pomperaug 47-yard line and then punting the ball after gaining eight yards on its last third quarter possession.
Pomperaug running back Kevin Maxen widened the lead, breaking through would-be Oxford tacklers on a 54-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. The 27 – 6 lead almost certainly spelled doom for the Wolverines.
Giordano and the Wolverines did not let up, though, marching 53 yards to the Panthers’ 15 and threatening to get the deficit closer. They managed to, but not on offense.
Maxen intercepted a Girodano fourth down pass, but fumbled the ball. After several unsuccessful attempts to recover it, the ball went through the back of the end zone, resulting in a safety for the Wolverines with 6:43 remaining in the game.
Unfortunately for Oxford fans, rooting for the designated “home” team at Pomperaug’s Edward Arum Field, the good vibes were snuffed out quickly. C.J. Elser picked off a Giordano pass near midfield and ran it back for a touchdown, extending the Panthers’ lead to 26 with 5:19 left.
Giordano quickly responded, hooking up with Hovan on a 66-yard touchdown pass for Oxford’s final points of the game at the 4:58 mark.
With the game in hand, Oxford Head Coach Joe Stochmal called a time out before Pomperaug’s first offensive play to pull Giordano and the rest of the seniors off the field for a final time.
Most of the team lingered on the field once the game went final. Many were smiling and laughing, although tearful.
Not so much for losing, but because the seniors completed their final games as Oxford Wolverines. Oxford finished its season 5 – 5, a far cry from the 0 – 11 campaign of a year ago.
“In the end, we just weren’t able to finish the job. But it wasn’t for lack of effort,” Stochmal said.
