Whether you are a fan of the Oxford High School football team or not, you have to admit that the Chief are coming off a nice season. They will look to continue that momentum when they travel to Lake Orion this weekend.
During his time at Oxford High School, Cam Jarrett was a linebacker for the Wildcats. He represented the team at media day and wore two numbers. The Wildcats’ season ended with a 2-5 record.
The school’s football program was a target of a shooting in November 2021. Four students were killed, including one who went to Oxford High School. The school is still dealing with the traumatic experience.
Jarrett was a candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in college football. As a sophomore, he led the country in tackles for loss (34.5) and sacks (17.5). He also set the school’s single season passing yardage record with 4,872 yards.
Jarrett has been praised by Oxford head coach Brian Line. Line is a former student athlete at Oxford and a former Minnesota Vikings player. He has also spent four years in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.
During his time at Oxford, Jarrett was a player that gave his life to protect others. He ran towards a gunman on the day of the shooting, saving others. He was a hero to Oxford and his teammates.
After his time at Oxford, Jarrett attended Georgia Tech for a year and then returned to Lake Orion. As a senior, he is set to be an impact player on the aerial attack.
In addition to Jarrett, Oxford’s football team has a number of talented players. The team’s leading tackler has graduated Jake Dawood and Ty Myre. The team also has a top-notch quarterback, Darnell Bates. As a junior, he threw for 5,083 yards and threw for 72 touchdowns.
In addition to running backs, Oxford also has a solid offensive line. Seniors Joe Neubecker and Dall Henry will anchor the offensive line. Along with Luke Johnson and Jake Dawood, the team also has a defensive line.
Among the five Oxford High School football seniors, three signed with a community college. They are a diverse group with one alum in the NFL, one in the military, and one in the college scouting world. The class finished with a 25-12 overall record under head coach Chris Cutcliffe, including a first-ever playoff berth in Class 6A. Among the many accolades the senior class earned, three were named to the All-Region 1-6A First Team.
The Class of 2018 also produced a few notables, including Ryan Lipscomb who was selected to participate in the prestigious Mississippi Alabama All-Star Game. He was also part of the Trench Mafia, which was a key component of the Chargers rushing attack. A few other notables included Lamarcus “Red” Faulkner who recorded 80 tackles as a senior, and Travien Sims who recorded 11 tackles for loss and two sacks during his lone season as an Eagle.
The Class of 2018 also logged a number of other firsts, including the first Class 6A playoff berth in school history, the first televised game at Oxford High School, and the first letter-grade football game since the program was reinstated in 2002. It was a successful run and the class of 2018 did it with style. They were a small group, but the most memorable of them all. Among the five, Travien Sims, Lamarcus “Red” Faulkner, and Ryan Lipscomb were the standouts. The class was also a juggernaut in the classroom, including a record high percentage of students who maintained high grade point averages. Among the most important milestones were a handful of letters of intent to attend a number of community colleges around the state.
KT Owens played varsity football for one season. He was not named to the All-Conference or All-Region teams, but he did make the list of All-Region players. He finished with a total of 52 tackles, three sacks, and a handful of other tackles and fumble recoveries. He was also named to the Associated Press’s prestigious All-Trophy Bowl for his efforts.
It’s not a stretch to claim that Owens is the most efficient rusher in the cycle, and his burst is among the best of the bunch. He also showed off as a playmaker on special teams, and as a safest man on the grid. Among the team’s six games, he has rushed for nearly 291 yards and five touchdowns. His best game was a win over Jackson in the first round of the Class 6A North playoffs. His other notable stats are four sacks, eight tackles for loss, and three turnovers. Those numbers aren’t bad for a freshman whose only experience on the field came during his freshman season.
Owens hasn’t played the last two games for the Mayes County Braves, but he has been a part of their winningest streak, which dates back to their win over Oxford in 2014. He is the first HBCU alum to play in the state’s biggest football league, and is expected to be a key member of the team’s playoff push.
The best part about this Mayes County Braves squad is that they’re not a year removed from the worst season in school history. The team has won two of their last three games, and is a game away from putting together a successful campaign in the Class 6A North.
Getting a win against your main rival is no small feat. The last time the two teams squared off was in 2009, when Lake Orion won the district championship. Now, the Cougars have been surpassed by West Bloomfield, who has won the first state championship in the history of the state. Nevertheless, this year’s squad looks like it has some serious depth.
One of the most notable accomplishments is the volleyball program’s 18-game win streak. In fact, it has been one of the top notch programs in Oakland County. Several standouts, like Izzy Wotilinski and Charlotte Peplowski, return. And with the addition of new coach Sam Rimi, Lake Orion may be on the cusp of a long-awaited championship.
The Oxford Wildcats will be going toe to toe with rivals such as Lapeer and Birmingham Groves High School this season. They will have Homecoming on the docket this Friday. On top of that, Oxford will be visiting Stoney Creek, which has a solid program of its own. This week’s game will serve as a nice warm-up for Oxford’s post-season schedule. This is a great opportunity to take a look at the Wildcats’ depth chart.
As for the aforementioned swooping feats of acoustics, I would like to point out that I haven’t seen one of these yet. However, I have seen a couple of other aforementioned feats in person. For instance, I have seen a team score a touchdown with two minutes to go in the third quarter. I don’t know if it was the team’s first time or not, but it’s a pretty impressive feat. I would like to see this feat repeated in the future.
The Oxford Wildcats may be a sleeper in their division, but they have the credentials to prove it. They may not have a championship to their name yet, but they are certainly the class of the pack.
During a time when many high school football programs were struggling, Oxford High School jumped into the playoffs. With the team’s run-heavy running back Sal Vackaro leading the charge, Oxford defeated Clarkston 38-28 on Friday.
Vackaro, a two-time state qualifier, rushed for nearly 300 yards. He added four touchdowns on the ground and five on pass receptions. Oxford’s defense stymied Clarkston on the final drive, ending the Wolves’ chance to score.
The two-time state qualifier also accounted for three interceptions. Defensive tackle Ryan DeGrieck, who also played every offensive snap, excelled in run defense and tackles.
Oxford’s defense also made sure Clarkston couldn’t break through in the third quarter. Oxford scored on its first play of the second half, a 76-yard run by Vackaro. Oxford added a 47-yard field goal from Jay Cady. Oxford’s defense kept Clarkston from converting on fourth down as the half expired.
In addition to Vackaro’s running game, Oxford’s defense held Clarkston to only 80 yards. Oxford’s offense put up the most points Clarkston had all season. Oxford is now 2-0 in district play. Oxford is set to face Rochester Adams in the district championship next week.
Tate Myre, a junior wrestler at Oxford, was the team’s captain. He also served as the team’s athletic director. He was also named an honorable mention all-state player in football. He had a 3.9 grade-point average and 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He was on the recruiting radar of Division 1 gridiron programs.
Myre’s father, Robert Saleh, a native of Metro Detroit, spoke at a news conference. He said that he was devastated by Myre’s death. Despite Myre’s tragic death, his teammates rallied around him.
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