The Oxford Wildcats took a big step in their march to defend their Flint Metro League title by stopping perennial rival Lapeer West last week, 21-14.
Last season Oxford and West shared the league title. The win improved the Wildcat’s record to 3-0 and put the team into a tie with Linden for the top spot in the league standing. West dropped to 1-2.
The Wildcats travel to Fenton on Friday to play the Tigers. Game time is 7 p.m.
Oxford held a 7-0 lead at halftime on the wet field. The opening score came with 1:23 before halftime on a pass from QB Nick Tombrella to Tony Esparsa of 18 yards. Matt Versteeg kicked the first of his three conversions following the score.
In the second half, Oxford established its ground attack and chewed up time on the wet evening. The Cats started their second TD drive with 9:32 left in the third quarter from their eight-yard line. A.J. Logan gained the bulk of the yards in the drive before going over from the three with 3:03 left in the quarter.
Lapeer West scored its first TD of the game as time expired in the third quarter. Following the conversion, Oxford led, 14-7.

The Cat’s final touchdown, and what proved to be the winning score, was set up by an interception by Mario Paese with 8:21 left which gave Oxford the ball on West’s 27.
Logan scored from the three with 6:36 left to put Oxford up 21-14.
West, which was using a spread offense, came back with several passes to score with 1:48 left in the game. The TD toss was from 26 yards away. Following the score, West attempted an on-side kick but the ball was recovered by Tombrella.
West’s QB Nate Smith passed for 222 yards while Tombrella had 50 yards passing and one touchdown. Geoffrey Charles led the Wildcats with 10 tackles, while Paese had seven and the interception..
The Cats rushed for 287 yards, with Logan collecting 184 rushed on 24 carries.
Logan had 145 of those yards in the second half.