by Bill Rudickbrudick55@gmail.com
OXFORD – The Hornets got off to a fast start and never let up as Oxford (6-3 overall, 2-1 Ches-Mont) blew past visiting Reading (2-6), notching a 42-14 victory in the non-league game Friday night at Oxford.
“This was the first time all year we put together a complete game,” said Oxford coach Mike Means. “We told them after the game that when we play the way we’re capable, like we did tonight, we can be special. We’re getting better every week, and it’s going to be great to be playing a meaningful game next week against Kennett.”
The Hornets scored on the first possession of the game, going 58 yards on six plays, capped by a 36-yard jaunt from quarterback Aiden Kane.
Then it was time for the defense to take over. After Liam Bell sacked Reading quarterback Kahlis Reyes to make it fourth-and–long on the Red Knights first possession, Oxford blocked the punt. Anthony Cataldi picked up the loose ball, and rumbled 39 yards down to the Reading three-yard line. Joel McClain (103 yard on 13 carries, 2 TD) ran it in from there.
“I saw the punter mess up the snap, but he still somehow got the kick off,” said Cataldi. “I saw Joe Hill get a hand on it, and I just grabbed it and started running. I really thought I was going to get in, but I was just a little short.”
Another three-and-out from Reading set the Hornets up with great field position, Kane struck again, this time going 63-yards on first down for the score, putting Oxford up 20-0 before the first period had expired. Kane finished the night with 142 yards on just eight carries.
“That is all the offensive line,” said Kane. “The holes they were creating all night were huge. It makes things easy when all you have to do is just run.”
In all the Hornets rolled up 291 yards on the ground, along with five rushing touchdowns.
“We know that Reading plays a brutal schedule, and they had some very good players on their defensive line,” said Means. “We did a good job of ID-ing them, and still felt we matched up well with them. Our offensive line has had that mentality all year, and have just played rugged, tough, physical football.”
The Hornet defense added a score, when Jalen McClain picked off a pass from Reyes, and returned it 31 yards for the touchdown.
Reading’s scores came late, with the Mercy Rule already in effect. The first was 21-yard run from Kahil Samuel, while Reyes connected with Jared Santos for a 67-yard scoring strike on the other.
Next week’s regular season finale between Oxford and Kennett will have all kinds of implications, as both teams are eyeing a berth in the District 1, 5A playoffs, and the winner will claim at least a piece of the Ches-Mont South title.
“We took our lumps last year with our youth movement,” said Means. “But we really created our new identity over the course of the offseason, and it’s playing off now. You get better in the weight room, and I’m just really pleased with the intensity and physicality of this team.”
Oxford 42 Reading 14Reading 0 6 0 8—14Oxford 20 15 7 0—42First quarterOX—Kane 36-run (McPeak kick) 7-0OX—Jo. McClain 3-run (kick failed) 13-0OX—Kane 63-run (McPeak kick) 20-0Second QuarterRD—Samuel 21-run (run failed) 20-6OX—Kane 28-run (Kane run) 28-6OX—Ja. McClain 31-INT Return (McPeak kick) 35-6Third QuarterOX—Jo. McClain 23-run (McPeak kick) 42-6Fourth QuarterRD—Santos 67-pass from Reyes (Samuel run) 42-14Team statisticsRD—OXFirst downs 6 13Rushes-yards 23-134 32-297Passing 7-19 3-5Passing yards 114 28Total yards 248 325Punts/avg 3-29.6 1-22Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1Penalties-yards 4-45 1-15Individual statisticsRushing— RD Samuel 7-44; Alvarado 7-20, Reyes 7-31; Blanding 1-5; Laws 1-4 OX Jo. McClain 13-103, 2 TD; Kane 8-142, 3TD; Schaible 2-10; Hunt 2-17; Swain 4-21; Howell 1-1, Deasey 2-3Passing —RD Reyes 7-19, 114, TD, INT OX Kane 3-5, 28 AGReceiving—RD Weaver 3-13; Santos 1-67, TD; Beatty 1-27; Samuel 1-5 OX Winters 2-19; Patterson 1-9Sacks—Bell (OX) 2INT—Ja. McClain (OX)
Source: Berkshire mont
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