Shanahan clinches playoff spot with win over Oxford
OXFORD—Oxford and Shanahan came into Friday’s game with the outcome having significance for each team. With a win, Oxford raised its chances to host a first round district playoff game. For the Eagles, the need was far greater—victory meant they would qualify for districts.
Though it was close early, Shanahan came up with a big defensive play, then reeled off three unanswered touchdowns before surrendering a late score, and came away with a 29-15 win over the Hornets.
“Glen Mills lost, so this should put us in,” said Shanahan coach Paul Myers. “We’ve played really well the last couple weeks. Our defensive coordinator made a couple adjustments early tonight, and we played tough defense the rest of the way.”
The Eagles scored first, with Garrett notching the first of his two touchdowns on the night. After forcing an Oxford punt, the Eagle went on the move again, moving deep into Oxford territory before the Hornets made a big goal line stand and took over on downs at their own one-yard line.
Combining runs from quarterback Brett Kochmansky, Alijah Thomas and Brandon McWilliams, while mixing in a few short passes, the Hornets marched 99 yards on 11 plays, capped by a four-yard run by Thomas. The Hornets tacked on the two-point conversion to make it 8-6 just before the end of the first period.
Then it was the Eagles’ defense that came up with a big play. Oxford began a drive at its own ten, then got moved back on a holding call. Shanahan tied the game at 8-8 with a safety, bring Kochmansky down in the end zone.
On Shanahan’s ensuing possession following the free kick, the Eagle scored again, with David Shaeffer reaching the endzone on a one-yard plunge.
The Eagles tacked on another pair of scores in the third period. First, Glendenning hauled in a 34 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Charlie Maddocks. Then, Maddocks connected with Tyler Kingsbury for 79-yards and a 29-8 lead.
“This game meant everything to us,” said Glendenning. “If we lost, it would have been the seniors last game, and we weren’t going to let that happen. We’ve really stepped it up the last couple weeks. We are going into the playoffs with confidence.”
The Hornets weren’t ready to pack it in, though, and cut the lead in half on a Thomas touchdown with about five minutes to play. But the Hornets were unable to mount another sustained drive, and the game ended at a 29-15 final.
With the loss, the Hornets fall to 5-5, and enter the playoffs having dropped their last two.
“We’re just not playing good football right now,” said Oxford coach Mike Means. “We’re just making too many mistakes. We have to fix the mistakes, but, we’re playing next Friday. 5-0 or 10-0, it’s a whole new season starting next week, where everyone is 0-0. We just have to work hard this week and try to get back doing the things we do well.”
