Oxford, AL – Propst’s Panthers put Oxford on the alert for an upset However, Mims, Hampton come through with clutch play as Oxford is able to mount a game-saving drives
Scoreboard
THURSDAY, Oct. 5
Winterboro 47, Donoho 6, FINAL
Sylvania 56, Glencoe 20, FINAL
FRIDAY, Oct. 6
St. Clair County 36, Alexandria 31, FINAL
Handley 39 Anniston 6. FINAL
Central-Clay 47. Valley 0. FINAL
Jacksonville 63, Cleburne County 14, FINAL
Hokes Bluff 28, Plainview 14, FINAL
Jax Christian 66, Success Academy 28, FINAL
Lincoln 29. Munford 17 FINAL
Geraldine 55 Ohatchee 6 FINAL
Oxford 28. Pell City 25 FINAL
Piedmont 35. Westbrook Christian 19. FINAL
Locust Fork 61, Pleasant Valley 6, FINAL
Vincent 33, Ranburne 20, FINAL
Randolph County 35, Saks 14, FINAL
Southside 23, Leeds 13, FINAL
Spring Garden 51, Talladega County Central 23, FINAL
White Plains 43, Talladega 29, FINAL
Wellborn 56 Childersburg 28. FINAL
Woodland 38 Central Coosa 13, FINAL
OPEN: Cherokee County, Wadley, Weaver.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
Oxford OXFORD Running behind Jaydon Thomas, and D.K. Wilson floated around Oxford as Rush Propst’s inaugural Pell City team put the best in Oxford’s passing game on Friday.
And then Mason Mims and Camare Hampton helped at a time when Oxford required it the most.
Mims’ fourth-down scramble helped keep Oxford’s game-saving drive going and Hampton’s zig zagging 39-yard touchdown in a running placed Oxford’s Yellow Jackets in position for Thomas the game-winning score with 33.8 seconds remaining. Oxford held on to win 28-25 at Lamar Field.
The win sent the ninth-ranked Oxford to an open match at 6-1, 4-0 in the Class 4A, Region 6. Second-ranked Clay-Chalkville is the favorite of the region on the opposite side.
“This was a BYO-G, bring-your-own-guts type of game for our players,” third-year Oxford coach Sam Adams said. “We certainly didn’t play the best we could, but Pell City did a great job in the game.”
Pell City fell to 1-5 and a 1-2 record in its debut season under Propst who has five Alabama state championships as well as two titles in Georgia. In the lead up to his first game of the regular season in his home town of Calhoun County in 31 years the Ohatchee native claimed that Oxford’s team remains where he wants Pell City’s within two or three years.
The Panthers created that timetable look possible.
“We’re down 21-10 and we’re back at taking an advantage” He said. “You’ve to give lots of the credit to our team.
“I’m happy with the direction we’re taking. We’re definitely heading towards the correct direction.”
Propst’s Panthers took a quick 10-0 advantage on Jake Blackstone 32-yard field goal at 7:36 of the opening quarter, and Jon Creel’s 3 yard TD drive at 6:42 of the second quarter.
They came back to gain a lead of 25-21 against Caleb Groce’s keepers at 75 and 54 yards late in the fourth quarter. The one coming at 6:30 to go.
Oxford errors aid in helping Pell City remain within the contest. Hampton’s missed punt pointed Pell City on the 21-yard line of Oxford prior to Creel’s touchdown. Groce’s decisive touchdown came following Mims along with Nicholas Hampton connected for 32-yard touchdown but Hampton lost his ball at the conclusion of the play on Pell City’s goal line of 25.
“We made some key mistakes on an attempted punt return, after that, we receive a massive final which they manage to are very effective in striking the ball away to one of our players,” Adams said. “To frequently have things not be our way and we don’t stop answering to the same questions, I think it says that a lot about the team.
“Sometimes you’ve got to beat ugly. I think it says much about our team.”
Pell City’s double-deep security approach allowed Oxford play a shrewd game, aided by Thomas and Wilson throughout. Wilson was a 123-yard rusher with a touchdown that was scored on a 4-yard run that make Oxford in front 21-10 at 31.9 seconds remaining during the 3rd quarter. Thomas added 92 yards, and the score that won the game.
When Oxford was able to get the ball back following Pell City’s goal during the 4th quarter Adams was patient and fed Wilson as well as Thomas and taking advantage of three of the Yellow Jackets’ three timeouts in the event of a need.
The game was in its final stages. Oxford being on fourth and down and just six yards from 38yard line, Mims made use of his legs to create an attempt, scurrying for 8 yards in order to keep his drive going.
“We had a wheel coming out of the backfield and it was my first time reading,” he said. “It was not there, and I saw a massive gap, and then did a play.
“It was pure amazing. It’s what you want to be.”
Five minutes after, Mims found Camare Hampton to throw a short pass across the middle. Hampton was able to run left and cut back left and then across the field into the Pell City 5-yard line.
“I was just aware that we needed to play and that I was expected to do my best in my squad,” said Hampton, in his debut season with Oxford after his transfer from Lincoln. “I simply did what I needed to do.
“It was a planned game to create something in the last minute. It was a timing of the clutch.”
Thomas his game-winning touchdown on the second and goal occurred following Pell City received the penalty of substitution and brought the ball about half way up to goal.
Mims finished 17-of-21 passes, resulting in 2 touchdowns and 146 yards with a 13-yard pass at Nick Richardson to bring Oxford within 10-7 at the half and a one-yard leap ball in the end zone’s corner for Camare Hampton, giving Oxford the lead of 14-10 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
“The move from Lincoln is quite footballer,” Propst said. “They brought it and he goes on to make an attempt and is able to win this game.”
