By Teddy Rydquist

Leader Sports Writer

Back on the road after three consecutive home contests, the Oxford Wildcats football team fell to the Southfield A&T Warriors, 27-0 on Oct. 11.

Nearly tripling Oxford’s offensive output, Southfield A&T got the scoring started when junior Rae’Quin Lee found the end zone from 10-yards out with 1:16 left in the first quarter.

As the rain began to fall more heavily, the Warriors increased their lead. Senior quarterback Anthony Romphf hit junior receiver Robert Army from 20-yards out with 5:47 left in the first half to make it 13-0.

A Florida Atlantic commit, Romphf will play for head coach Lane Kiffin in 2020. While missing some throws in this one, he flashed his strong arm talent, finishing 9-19 for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Jeremiah Piper, who stars on both sides of the football for the Warriors, ripped off a 66-yard touchdown run with 3:05 left in the second quarter to give Southfield A&T a comfortable three-touchdown margin.

Unable to get much generated offensively throughout the night, Oxford did have a couple of opportunities to get on the scoreboard.

Most notably, with 5:30 left in the third quarter. Electing to go for it on fourth down and two from inside the Warriors’ 15-yard line, the Wildcats were stopped short and turned the football over on downs.

Shockingly, Oxford was just 3-16 on third down conversions in this game. With their rushing attack held in check by the Warriors’ defensive line, the Wildcats were frequently in third and five-plus.

Leading the Wildcats, junior Melvin Eckles had just 28 yards on nine carries (3.1 average). Toting the ball 14 times, senior Matt Pullman finished with 26 yards rushing (1.9 AVG).

While Oxford only completed five passes, sophomore quarterback Brady Carpenter did demonstrate a solid rapport with junior receiver Aidan Regan, hitting him three times for 55 yards.

“We have to put it behind us,” head coach Bud Rowley said of the one-sided defeat.

“A very good West Bloomfield team is coming to town and it will be Senior Night. It’s important to send our seniors out the right way.”

Dropping to 1-6 overall, the Wildcats are 1-4 in OAA play.

Their final home game of the season, Oxford hosts the West Bloomfield Lakers on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Atop the OAA Red standings, the Lakers are 6-1 for the season.