For Oxbridge Academy, it’s time to avenge a loss
Oxbridge Academy hasn’t forgotten about last year’s defeat.
As the ThunderWolves gear up for their first football state title game on Saturday morning, it’s only natural for the team to think back to last year, considering they’ll be facing Chaminade-Madonna — the same team that ended their season a year ago.
Facing the Lions in the Class 3A regional finals — the FHSAA shifted the regions this season, putting Oxbridge on the North side of the bracket — the ThunderWolves trailed just 16-13 entering the fourth quarter, but surrendered two scores in the final 12 minutes to suffer a 30-13 defeat.
“We played our worst football at the worst possible time,” said Oxbridge Academy coach Brendan Kent. “They outplayed us in every phase and it left a sour taste in our mouth. We’ve used it as motivation and we’ve had our eyes set on this game all year. We kind of figured they’d be the opponent, so it’s our chance to get back in there and play a lot better.”
Since that defeat, Oxbridge hasn’t fallen to an in-state opponent. After dropping a tight 14-13 game to Pennsylvania’s Archbishop Wood, the team has rolled off 10 straight wins by a combined margin of 407-39. The defense recorded five shutouts and held nine of its 11 opponents to single-digit point totals.
The main priority on Saturday will be attempting to slow down ChaminadeMadonna star running back Shaun Shivers, who ran for 140 yards and a touchdown versus the ThunderWolves last year. Oxbridge kept him contained for most of the contest, but the speedy Auburn commit busted a back-breaking 97-yard touchdown run that gave the Lions a 10-point fourth quarter lead.
[Shivers] is a great player,” Kent said. “You’ve got to bottle him up and you can’t let him get loose, because when he gets loose, you’re not catching him. If you can hit him before he gets started, you have a chance.”
That task will be up to the ThunderWolves front seven, which has been exceptional this entire season. The ThunderWolves starting defensive line of Herman McCray, Brandon Hudgens, DJ Wells and Damian Lovett has combined for 16 sacks on the season, while holding opposing runners at bay.
Junior Dorian Jones, who leads the team’s linebacker corps with Kyle Vanputtenvink and Micaiah Joseph, is eager for a shot at redemption against the Lions.
“It stuck with me a lot,” said Jones, a two-time firstteam All-County selection. “Every play. I remember. I’ve wanted Chaminade since the day we lost to them.”
Oxbridge, who has dominated opponents all season, finds itself in the rare position of being an underdog against the loaded Lions. Joe Pinkos, who uses a computer formula to predict games statewide, has Chaminade as a 10-point favorite. Kent is fine with being in the underdog role, though.
“I’m sure everybody’s going to pick them to win,” Kent said. “They beat us last year. They should be the favorite. They beat us and we’ve got a lot to prove.”
Staff predictions Wells Dusenbury: Chaminade-Madonna 24, Oxbridge Academy 20. David Furones: Chaminade-Madonna 27, Oxbridge Academy 20.