Oxford pushes the ‘Line’ past Clarkston to clinch playoff spot
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLAKRSTON — With blood on his torn and tattered jersey, Prescott Line could only wear a smile late Friday night. The Oxford two-way starter literally carried more than another All-American performance on his shoulders.
With several teammates involved in a car accident Thursday night, including one still in the hospital, Line led his Wildcats to one of the biggest wins in recent memory. Line had another grand performance, scoring five touchdowns — four offensive and one defensive — on a night where he rushed 33 times for 296 yards to lead Oxford to a 42-35 triumph over host Clarkston in the OAA Crossover Showcase second-place game.
It marks Oxford’s first postseason berth since 2008. The win is also the Wildcats’ first over Clarkston since 27-20 season-opening victory in 1972.
ON THE MOVE: OXford's Prescott Line rushes for the first down with Clarkston's Chris Calvano draped over his shoulder during the Wildcats' 42-35 victory over clarkston Friday.Photo by Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
“A lot of people doubted us today,” said Line, who has 33 touchdowns and over 2,000 yards in eight games this season. “We took it to heart. We also played for a couple of kids who got in a car accident last night.
“Our team is an endurance team, relentless. Our lineman work hard as the game goes on,” said Line. “They picked the right blocks, I picked the right reads.”
Down 35-28 in the fourth quarter, Line finished off an 86-yard drive that lasted just seven plays, as he scampered in from 6-yards out. Line had consecutive 30-yard rushes in the game-tying drive, which came with 5:54 left.
Oxford (6-2) forced Clarkston to punt on its next possession — the Wolves had 50-yard bomb pass dropped during that series — and Matt Economou returned the punt down to the Clarkston 27.
Two plays later, Line bolted into the end zone from 18 yards out to provide the game-winning points. Mike Kitchner nailed all six extra points for the Wildcats (6-2).
“Prescott Line is a pretty good player. But we’re not a one-man show,” smirked Oxford coach Bud Rowley. “This was a great team effort. We beat a very good team and now we’re going to enjoy this and then concentrate on Oak Park.
“We lost to Farmington Harrison and they’re the best team in our league,” continued Rowley. “We want to be the second best team in our league, then worry about the playoffs.”
Clarkston coach Kurt Richardson knew the storm was coming with the state’s most dominant player in Line, but the Wolves could not stop Line for long stretches of the game.
“Line made big plays. Their quarterback made big plays when he had to when had to, their line made big plays when they had to,” offered Richardson. “Hats off to Oxford. They had an accident yesterday and they lost some players. Coach Rowley did a great job. They just beat us in every possible way.”
Line scored on the first play on the Wildcats’ second possession, rushing 43 yards while barreling over a pair of defenders for the score and a 7-0 lead.
Line, who finished the night with 14 tackles and two tackles for loss, showed off his defensive prowess by picking off a Clarkston pass three plays later and scampering home for a 40-yard interception return with 5:33 to go in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead.
Clarkston (5-3) countered with three straight scores.
The Wolves put together an eight-play, 90-yard drive capped by 13-yard TD toss from Mitch Baenziger to Matt Dellinger with 1:00 to go in the quarter.
A seven-play drive that ventured 69 yards was wrapped up when Mike Schwartz caught his first pass of the game, this time from 31 yards out, from Baenziger, to knot the score at 14-14.
SEARCHING FOR DAYLIGHT: Clarkston's Mitch Baenziger is chased out of the pocket by Oxford's Tyler Hunsucker. Photo by Larry McKee, www.keephotography.com
Oxford fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Wolves took advantage. Using a halfback option pass, Joey Goss fired a 25-yard strike to Schwartz to put Clarkston up temporarily at 21-14 with 4:11 left.
Oxford would not go away, as Tyler Hunsucker caught a 4-yard TD toss from freshman quarterback Glacier Wallington with 11.6 second left in the second period, which tied the score at 21-21. The score was set up by a 37-yard bomb from Wallington to Mike Hansen at the Clarkston 4.
After a scoreless third quarter, Clarkston took a 28-21 advantage when Goss scored on an 8-yard run with 11:56 left to set the stage for a wild fourth quarter.
Line again tied it again on 14-yard sprint with 8:30 to play, only to see Clarkston (5-3) take the lead one last time when Goss returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for paydirt.
The Wolves, who had to forfeit their first two wins of the season, could not stop Line down the stretch nor could they convert again.
“That kid is a beast,” admitted Richardson of Line. “Give their (offensive) line some credit. They did a great job.”
Clarkston must win in Week 9 in an OAA Red Division home game against Lake Orion to secure a playoff spot. A win would give the Wolves a share of the league title with the Dragons (6-2), who dropped a 28-7 decision to Farmington Harrison Friday.
Schwartz caught four passes for 75 yards, Goss had 104 yards on 18 carries and Baenziger was 10-for-17 passing for 97 yards for Clarkston.
Wallington chipped in 54 yards on seven carries and passed 8-for-16 for 111 yards to aid Oxford.
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Category: Clarkston, High School, High School (M-Z), Oxford, Prep Wraps
