Eight Oxford players have been named to the Flint Metro all-League football squad.
The eight include senior Kam Mueller, who was named to the first team on both offense and defense.
The Wildcats were 5-4 overall and 3-2 in Flint Metro League action, which was good enough for third place, behind Linden and Lapeer West. The team averaged nearly 38 points per game on offense in league play while only giving up about 14.
The eight were honored this week at the annual Oxford football banquet.
The other all-league recipients are: seniors Nick Murray, Nick Shufflin, Billy Keenist, Chris Harper, and Sergio Schlak. Juniors named to the all-league squad are Vinnie Ives, and Josh Rutkowski.
Mueller, who led the Wildcats in tackles from his spot on the defensive line, also helped anchor the offensive line.
‘He’s a second-year starter who can really run,? said Coach Bud Rowley. ‘He led by example. He’s a great kid, with great character and morals.?
Mueller was one of the team’s co-captains along with Keenist, Murray and Schlak. He plans to attend Albion where he will play football.
‘He will be a great college student and football player,? Rowley said.
Schlak was named to the all-metro league as a running back. He led the team in rushing and touchdowns the last two seasons.
‘What can you say about Sergio? He has been carrying the mail for two years for us,? Rowley said. ‘He lives and breathes football and wants to play college football. He did a great job for Oxford. He’s a great kid, a great young man.?
Quarterback Billy Keenist has run Oxford’s offense the past two seasons.
‘Billy Keenist worked and worked for us. The culmination of hard work led to his great game in that overtime game against Linden,? Rowley said. ‘He kept us in the game and did a great job for us all year. He is a great kid.?
In that game, Keenist passed for three touchdowns, ran for another and ran for a two-point conversion in overtime.
Rowley has called the 36-35 triple overtime game the greatest game he has ever seen.
Shufflin was one of the standouts for Oxford’s defense from his linebacker spot.
‘Nick Shufflin came in and did a great job for us. We were very fortunate to have him on our team. He is a great young man.?
Murray was one of several two-way starters for Oxford, playing both fullback and linebacker.
‘On both sides of the ball, Nick Murray was in the same mold as Kam Mueller. He was a great leader for us, a great student and great morals,? Rowley said.
Chris Harper, a senior who played wide receiver, was the Metro League’s top kickoff and punt returner.
‘Chris Harper did a great job. On special teams he was just phenomenal. He got better each game and was wonderful on punt returns,? Rowley said.
Rutkowski, a junior, will be one of the team leaders next year on the offensive and defensive lines, Rowley predicted.
‘He did some great things for us as a junior,? Rowley said. ‘He’ll play on both sides of the ball and lead us next year. We’re excited for his senior year.?
Vinnie Ives is the other junior to receive all-league honors. He anchored the defensive backfield and led the team in interceptions.
‘Vinnie Ives is a junior and has played two years on the varsity. He really came on like gangbusters. He was the man in our secondary this season,? Rowley said.
(please see this weeks issue of the Oxford Leader for more photos)