Oxford was the team that made the plays when they needed to and defeated Lafayette 19-0 to claim their first victory over their arch-rivals since 2005 and claim the Crosstown Classic trophy for the first time since Oxford built its new athletic facility in front of a regional audience broadcast by Fox Sports South. The win stops Lafayette's 34-game winning streak and probably even more importantly, stopped the Commodores 6-game win streak over the Chargers.
Lafayette's offense could not get going all game long and found themselves stuffed nearly every single run by Oxford's front-7. LHS QB Brandon Mack and RB DK Buford could not find many holes tonight. The Commodores did not reach Oxford territory until the 4th Quarter - which was thwarted by an Oxford Interception.
Oxford's first score came on its second drive after Oxford received the football to start the game, but ended on a missed FG. Oxford (3-0) took advantage of a short field and ended it on a Jarius Barnes 1-yard run. Cody Mills PAT was good and Oxford led 7-0.
Oxford would keep Lafayette pinned on its own side of the field until midway through the 2nd Quarter where Oxford got close enough for Mills to knock in a 31-yard FG to increase its lead to 10-0.
Oxford continued to keep Lafayette on its own end of the field giving the Chargers many opportunities to score. Oxford was able to drive late but a bad snap - likely caused by the wet field and ball that Hurricane Isaac did prior to the game - forced Oxford to a FG try but the 36-yarder by Mills was off target. Oxford led 10-0 at halftime.
The Chargers began the 2nd Half with a successful onside kick. OHS was able to drive it down to the LHS 9 and Mills nailed a 26-yard FG to extend the Charger lead to 13-0.
Lafayette (2-1) was nearly run out of Bobby Holcomb Field after Buford fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Oxford recovered inside their 5. Two plays later however, Oxford fumbled the ball and their only turnover drained the Chargers in putting the game away quickly. Lafayette would be held once again to a punt.
Lafayette would finally put a few pieces together, and with help from Oxford committing penalties and a perfectly executed fake punt by the Commodores, Lafayette found themselves inside Oxford territory for the first time all game at the 30. However, the Commodores used so much of the 4th Quarter clock to get to that point that Lafayette had to pass the ball a bit more - and failed. LeAnthohy Rogers would intercept a 2nd & 17 pass with 5:30 left in the game at the OHS 14.
The Chargers were held to a three-and-out, but a Lafayette defender roughed Mills on the punt and allowed Oxford to burn the clock down to nearly 2 minutes left. Mills was able to pin Lafayette with a 54-yard punt to the LHS 17.
Oxford would not let Lafayette get back to their end of the field. The Chargers tipped a pass and fell right into the hands of Mark Pegues who would return it 36-yards for the icing-on-the-cake Touchdown with 54 seconds left. Mills missed the PAT to have the score at 19-0.
Lafayette waved the white flag as their backups finished the game on offense and allowed Oxford to celebrate a well-earned victory.
***Notes: Lafayette did not reach midfield until midway through the 4th Quarter on offense. Lafayette only had one first down in the first half (via an offside penalty). Mack & Buford were held to 18 total yards rushing on 25 carries. This is Oxford's first shutout of an opponent since defeating Greenwood in 2007 40-0. This is the first time Lafayette has been shutout since losing to Shannon in the 3rd Round of the 4A playoffs 7-0. This is the first shutout by either team in the series since 1996 when Oxford won 7-0. The 19 points combined by two teams in an Oxford game is the lowest since 2004 - when Oxford defeated Holly Springs 13-0.