OXFORD PREVIEW: Wildcats look to rebound, return to upper echelon

PLOWING ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE: Oxford's Prescott Line returns at fullback and linebacker for the Wildcats, who hope to right the ship after finishing 3-6 last autumn. Courtesy Photo | CatsDen Photography.

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

OXFORD — Bud Rowley is not one to blame others, at least not last year, when he watched Oxford’s football program venture through a rare rebuilding season.

In fact, after 28 straight winnings seasons, the longest in Oakland County, the Wildcats limped to a 3-6 overall record, including 2-6 in their first season in the Oakland Activities Association White Division.

“When that happens, you have to blame the guy in charge,” admitted Rowley. “It’s my fault.”

Rowley, now in his 34^th non-consecutive season at the helm of the Wildcats program, which includes a state championship in 1992, state runner-up finishes in 1990 and 1993 and 15 total postseason appearances, vows to not let last season become a habit.

“We weren’t prepared for our new league the way we should have been,” said Rowley, noting the different styles in the OAA compared to the Flint Metro League, where Oxford competed from 1983-2009. “This year we will be.”

Oxford last made the postseason in 2008 and this year has a much-improved team. Even most of the coaches around the OAA expect Oxford to finish in the top half of the OAA-White, where defending league and state champion Farmington Harrison is the heavy favorite.

The Wildcats do feature plenty talent of their own to make a run for the postseason. There are two, Division I college prospects in the lineup, several others on college coaches’ radars and a fine freshman class which features three ninth-grade prospects on the varsity roster — the first time Rowley can remember that happening at Oxford.

Plus, Oxford will play its home games on turf for the first time.

“We have some good kids who don’t want to lose (again),” said Rowley.

Oxford made multiple lineup changes throughout the season last year and with that, several underclassmen gained experience playing against competition in one of the state’s better leagues. Harrison, Rochester Adams and Farmington all reached the postseason out of the OAA-White last season.

ANIMATED: Veteran Oxford coach Bud Rowley shouts at his tropps at a practice last season.Rowley and his Wildcats will play their second year in the OAA White Division but will also have home games on its new blue turf field. File Photo

On offense last season, Oxford amassed 175 points but closed strong with a 35-0 shutout of Royal Oak in Week 8 and a 51-28 thrashing of Oak Park in Week 9, showcasing its improvement after being blown out in three of the first four weeks of the season.

Senior Vito Giannola (5-10, 175) has improved his game and returns to the quarterback position for a team that likes to run the football. Oxford’s ability to mix in a passing game may be crucial if this team is to rebound and finish higher in the league standings.

Senior Prescott Line (6-1, 220), a state champion wrestler, is again one of the team’s top running backs. Senior Matt Anger (6-0, 200), part of Oxford’s state championship wrestling program, and freshman Scott Stubenrauch (5-10,160) are some speedy backs hoping to make their mark this season.

The team’s other two freshman, Glacier Wallington (5-8, 160) and Chase Lalla (5-9, 160) may also see carries in the backfield.

Senior wide-out Matt Economou (6-2, 190) is a college prospect in both football and baseball and is a sure-handed player with good speed, while senior Grant Ingalls (6-0, 175) and senior tight end Tyler Hunsucker (5-9, 220) are two more options if the Wildcats decide go to the air.

On the line, senior Collin Goetz (6-7, 250), a three-sport athlete who committed to Central Michigan for football, will join junior guard Zach Hadorn (6-0, 210), junior tackle Pipen Thaler (6-0, 200) and senior Seth Miller (5-11, 210), who transferred in over the summer from New Orleans, La., area.

Defensively, the Wildcats yielded 233 points last season, but only 48 the final three weeks of the campaign. Most of the defensive unit is back to try to seal down the opposition’s ball movement.

Line is a returning All-Area First Team linebacker and anchors that group alongside senior Anthony Cappucilli (5-9, 160), junior Marty Giannola (5-11, 180) and senior Doug Grandy (6-0, 185).

Thaler is power-hitting nose tackle and will team up senior with senior Dakota Westmoreland, (5-10, 170), a state qualifier in the pole vault during track season, junior tackle Logan Maime (6-3, 270), Hunsucker, Miller and Goetz. Miller will be a defensive end and Goetz, who was 12^th in the shot put at the Division 1 track state finals in June, is a towering presence at tackle.

In the secondary, the Wildcats do have plenty of depth and athleticism. Vito Giannola, Economou, senior Kyle Hill (5-9, 145), Wallington, Stubenrauch and Lalla will all be in the mix. Hill is another standout wrestler who did not play football as a junior.

Senior Mike Kitchner (6-2, 190) is the latest of standout kickers hailing from Oxford’s program, Kitchner is also a soccer player who Rowley says “ranks up there with the good kickers that we’ve had here over the years.”

Rowley feels his team is “quicker and stronger” at many positions compared to last year, and again there are several wrestlers and track and field athletes in the lineup. But after tasting the sting of defeat more often than the thrill of victory last season, Rowley said things should be different.

“We’ll be ready,” he snarled.

“When you don’t reach your expectations and your goal is always the playoffs, it makes you work harder,” continued Rowley. “We have a great facility now. No excuses.”

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Tags: high school football, OAA football, Oxford Football, Oxford Football Preview 2011, prep football

Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Oxford, Prep Wraps