Oxford Loses to Bethel in a Shoot Out

The Oxford Wolverines came back from a two score deficit in the second half to tie its game with Bethel at 41 in Oxford Thursday at the end of the third quarter.

But the Wolverines, whose offense played well for three quarters when it held onto the football, couldn’t put points on the board in the final quarter and gave up two scores in the same span. Consequently, Oxford lost 54-41 in a game that was much more of a competitive battle than the final score indicates.

“Our offense put the ball on the ground (and turned it over) three times in the first half, and we were tied at halftime,” said Oxford head coach Joe Stochmal. “If we keep possession of the ball, we possibly score and that’s a big shift. …You have to win the turnover battle, and we didn’t do that today.”

At the beginning of the second half, it didn’t appear Oxford had a chance as they gave up two quick scores.

The Wolverines came out of halftime and gave up a touchdown on a 9-yard run from Brandon Schmitt with 50 seconds taken off the clock in the third quarter. (Schmitt, Bethel’s quarterback, finished the day with 20 carries for 158 yards and completed 11 of 18 passes for 188 yards.)

After the score, Bethel kicked off with a squib kick that went to an up back on the Oxford kick return team who fumbled and gave Bethel possession once again.

In less than two minutes, Bethel scored again on a 6-yard reception by wide receiver Cal Daniels, a sophomore who is listed at 6-feet, two-inches and 230 pounds. As he has done much of the season, Daniels continuously dragged defenders down field and finished with 8 receptions for 164 yards and three TDs.

Following Bethel's second score in the third, Oxford quickly answered, marching down field under good blocking up front and the good skill position play of seniors Alex Miller, quarterback; Chris Hovan, running back; and Jordan Biagioni, wide receiver.

Miller scored on a quarterback keeper from two yards out and Oxford missed the extra point to put them at an eight point deficit.

Oxford played great defense, led by Hovan, who rushed the quarterback on third and long and knocked the ball out of his hands to force a Bethel punt.

Hovan, who fumbled twice early in the  game, then showed he could turn it around on the offensive end, as well. He took a handoff down the left sideline and outpaced all defenders en route to a 75 yard touchdown run. Hovan then converted on a trick play – Oxford lined up eight guys to the left and then snapped the ball from the middle of the field to Hovan, who took the ball into the right half of the end zone untouched to tie the game at 41.

In the fourth quarter, Bethel converted on a big second and 15 on a pass to Daniels, who had another timely reception later in the drive to set up a two-yard touchdown run by Schmitt. Bethel left the door open for Oxford by missing the extra point.

Oxford looked to be continuing its offensive prowess on a 12-yard Alex Miller run for a first down. But the Wolverines were flagged for holding, backing them up to a first and 20 from their own 24 yard line.

Hovan was stuffed on the first possession, and Miller's pass on second down was blocked by a defensive lineman.

Chris Van Kamerick caught a 14-yard pass on third-and-20, bringing up a fourth and 6 from Oxford’s own 38 yard line.

The Wolverines lined up in a punt formation but put a direct snap into the hands of Miller, who looked to run the ball right on the fake punt but was quickly met by a swarm of Bethel defenders.

Bethel took over on downs, maintained possession and scored once more to secure the 54-41 victory.

“Honestly, I though if we gave them the ball back, I didn’t know if we were going to be able to stop them,” Stochmal said of the fake punt. “That was my decision; it’s something I’m not going to second guess. It just didn’t work out.”

Stochmal saw some positives, including the play of Miller and Biagioni.

Miller accounted for more than 450 yards of total offense and five scores with three rushing touchdowns, including a 68-yard scamper. He also threw two touchdown passes.

He completed 18 of 26 passes for 308 yards; he also ran the ball 15 times for 150 yards.

Biagioni had 10 receptions for 190 yards, including a 70-yard TD reception.

Hovan carried the ball 14 times for 102 yards and a touchdown. And Justin Laso had four receptions for 75 yards.

Oxford drops to 1-3 on the season.

Stochmal said his team had some positives, including the fact that it didn’t give up. Despite being down 13 with less than a minute to go in the game, the Wolverines kept churning on offense and nearly scored with less than 10 seconds left.

“That’s one thing that our kids always show is that they don’t have any quit in them,” Stochmal said. “That’s something we try to instill in them as a coaching staff.”

Score by quarter

Bethel – 14, 13, 14, 13 - 54

Oxford – 14, 13, 14, 0 – 41

Scoring

Bethel: Matt Kessler – 15-yard fumble recovery, Brandon Schmitt extra point, 7-0, Bethel

Oxford: Vinny Cavalieri – 12-yard pass from Alex Miller, Joe Greco extra point, 7-7

Bethel: William Quinn, 35-yard run, Schmitt extra point, 14-7, Bethel

Oxford: Miller 67-yard run, Greco extra point, 14-14

Bethel: Cal Daniels 21-yard pass from Schmitt, kick failed, 20-14, Bethel

Oxford: Jordan Biagioni 70-yard pass from Miller, kick failed, game tied at 20

Bethel: Daniels 55-yard reception from Schmitt, Schmitt extra point, 27-20 Bethel

Oxford: Miller 2-yard run, Greco kick, game tied at 27

SECOND HALF

Bethel: Schmitt 9-yard run, Schmitt extra point, 34-27 Bethel

Bethel: Daniels, 6-yard reception from Schmitt, Schmitt extra point 41-27 Bethel

Oxford: Miller 2-yard run, kick blocked 41-33, Bethel

Oxford: Hovan 75-yard run, Hovan two point conversion. Game tied at 41.

Bethel: Schmitt 2-yard run, kick failed 47-41, Bethel

Bethel: Brian Birdsell 10-yard run Schmitt kick, 54-41 Bethel