Oxford defeats rival Octorara

OXFORD >> Oxford quarterback Dan Green etched his name in the football program’s record books as the Hornets routed Octorara, 49-7, on Friday to end the regular season on a two-game winning streak.
“It just feels great to finish the year, and our high school careers, with a win” said Green.  “We didn’t start out the way we wanted to, but we kept working and kept getting better.  To end it with two big wins is great.”
Green finished his Oxford career surpassing Colin Herb as the shool’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He was 16-of-22 for 218 yards with toudown passes to Brandon DeShields, Connor Hilaman and KC Roberts.
“Talk about a lucky situation to walk into when you have Danny at quarterback,” said Oxford coach Mike Means. “He’s unbelievable, as a leader, as a player, and just as a great kid.  It couldn’t have been easy to come in as a senior and have to learn the triple option we were putting in. But he just made it all come together.”
The first quarter was a little crazy, with three scores coming in less than three minutes.  Oxford (3-3, 3-7) took the opening kickoff and marched  65 yards on six plays, highlighted by a 41-yard pass from Green to Troy Brown. The drive was capped by a 10-yard TD pass from Green to DeShields.
Then it was the Braves’ turn.
On Octorara’s 0-6, 0-10) opening play from scrimmage, Scotty Burridge took a handoff from Trent Pawling, headed outside and ran 76 yards to the Oxford four. Three plays later, Burridge ran it in from a yard out. Burridge led all rushers with 140 yards on 13 carries.
“We had our moments, and we had our bright spots,” said Octorara coach Jedd King. “But this isn’t the kind of season any of us wants.  We’re young, and we have a lot of guys coming back.  We’ve just got to get stronger and faster.  We have to do what it takes so we don’t have this kind of season again.”
On the ensuing kickoff, Brandon Holz ran it back 84 yards for the score and a lead they would never relinquish. Holz would add another touchdown on a fumble return for Oxford’s final score, rumbling 46 yards to the end zone.
Also scoring were Tim Davis on a 7-yard run and Nolan Benke, who broke loose for a 34-yarder.
The Oxford defense came up with big plays all night, with multiple stops on fourth down, and a whopping seven sacks by different players.
“I love it when everyone comes together and plays hard,” said defensive back Mike Williams.  “The way everyone was flying around on defense tonight, they weren’t going to be able to get much going on us.  It just feels great to end the high school career on a high note.”

Oxford 49, Octorara 7
Octorara    7    0    0    0    —    7
Oxford    14    14    0    21    —    49
First Quarter
Oxford — DeShields 10 pass from Green (Hannum kick)
Octorara — Burridge 1 run (Schillinger kick)
Oxford — Holz 84 kickoff return (Hannum kick)
Second Quarter
Oxford — Hilaman 29 pass from Green (Hannum kick)
Oxford — Davis 7 run (Hannum kick)
Fourth Quarter
Oxford — Roberts 12 pass from Green (Hannum kick)
Oxford — Benke 34 run (Hannum kick)
Oxford — Holz 46 fumble return (Hannum kick)
team statistics
    Oc    Ox
First downs    6    12
Rushes-yards    29-170    21-122
Passing    8-10-0    16-22-0
Passing yards    108    218
Total yards    278    340
Punts    2-31.5    2-31
Fumbles-lost    0-0    1-1
Penalties-yards    3-15    6-55