Oxford perfect 10

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: October 29, 2016

‘We made history’ — Yellow Jackets run the table in the regular season, becoming first team to go 10-0

Senior kicker Keaton Borrelli follows through on one of his seven successful kicks against Sumter Central. Borrelli dedicated his effort to his mom, who was celebrating her birthday Friday night. On the cover, quarterback Abe Peoples pulls away from center to get the action going. (All photos by Kristen Stringer/Krisp Pics Photography)

By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today

OXFORD — 10-0. The Oxford Yellow Jackets have never been able to say that after a regular season in their long and storied history. Until Friday.

The Yellow Jackets completed a 10-0 regular season with a 41-0 win over Sumter Central at Lamar Field.

They came close in 2007, winning all 10 games on the field, but had to forfeit seven games for using an illegal player that dropped them to 3-7. They were state champs in 1993 at 14-0, but were only 9-0 in the regular season. It was the same story in 1988.

In 1972 the Yellow Jackets went 9-0 in the regular season and finished 10-1 after a playoff loss. In 1971 they were 9-0-1 with a 14-14 tie at Saks.

The last time they won at least 10 games in a season was 2011 (12-2).

“The coaches told us we made history, that we’re maybe one of five or six teams that went through a perfect season,” senior kicker Keaton Borrelli said. “A lot of guys understand it, some don’t. Those who do understand know what it means to everybody, for our confidence going into the playoffs.”

The second-ranked Jackets will open up the Class 6A state playoffs with Muscle Shoals at Lamar Field Friday.

Oxford head coach Ryan Herring was a player on the ’93 team that went on to win the state championship.

”You are dang right I was on that team,” he said. “It feels just as good to be a part of that team and to be a part of this one. They both had a good bunch of kids.”

The Yellow Jackets brought back an old friend to become victory No. 10. They set the game by the fact Sumter Central principal Stoney Pritchard used to coach at Oxford.

”I hired Stoney to come coach here a few years back,” Oxford Athletic Director Larry Davidson said.

The Jackets started quickly, going 73 yards on eight plays with Tyetus Smith-Lindsey rushing for 48 and getting the touchdown on an 8-yard run on third down. Abe Peoples later hit Hakeem Averitte with a 7-yard pass and Jackets had a 14-0 lead.

It was 27-0 at halftime after Kenney Britt Jr. forced a fumble and recovered it in the end zone and Borrelli kicked field goals of 22 and 38 yards.

Borrelli hit all his kicks in the game – two field goals and five extra points. He is 6-for-9 on field goals this season and the 38-yarder, as time expired in the first half, was his longest of the season.

“It was great; for it to be my senior night and mom’s (Bevalie) birthday, it meant a lot to me,” Borrelli said. “I just dedicated it to her. I told her tonight this night is for you. She said thank you and I love you. I hoped her birthday was great.”

Oxford was dominant in all ways in the first half. The Jackets had the ball 19 minutes and ran 41 plays to the Jaguars’ 12. They outgained the Jags 273 yards to 16. The Jaguars only had one first down and only three plays longer than a yard.

The reserves played most of the second half after Averitte caught another touchdown pass from Peoples. Averitte caught six passes for 58 yards, Peoples completed 12 of 16 passes for 113 yards and the two TD passes to Averitte, and Smith Lindsey rushed for 95 yards on 15 carries.

Oxford pinned the Jaguars (1-9) inside their own 5 six times in the game and ran only 12 plays in its own territory the entire game. The Jags did not cross midfield until 2:30 left in the third quarter and ran only nine plays in Oxford territory.

“We were pretty sloppy out there tonight,” said Herring. ”The score was great and the offense was just sloppy. Maybe it was just the week off, or that the playoffs start next week.

“We have to get some guys healthy for next week and cut down on our mistakes, if we are going to go anywhere in the playoffs.”

BRITT’S BIG NEWS: Oxford linebacker K.J. Britt is throwing a Halloween party Monday. Who will he come dressed as — a tree, a Volunteer, a Dawg, a Tiger, a Wolverine, a Rebel, somebody/thing else? We will see, as he’s expected to announce his commitment Monday.

Britt told East Alabama Sports Today months ago he wasn’t into the “hat thing” you see so much on ESPN signing announcements. But you have to admit the costume thing would be pretty neat (especially the Stanford tree), if only figuratively.

Britt is taking an official visit to Ole Miss this weekend. In Friday’s regular-season finale, he had five tackles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. — Al Muskewitz

Oxford 41, Sumter Central 0
Sumter Central 0 0 0 0 — 0
Oxford 14 13 14 0 — 41

O — Tyetus Smith-Lindsey 8 run (Keaton Borelli kick), 7:40 1Q
O – Hareem Averitte 7 pass from Abe Peoples (Keaton Borelli kick), 2:41 1Q
O — Kenny Britt Jr. fumble recovery in end zone (Keaton Borelli kick), 7:40 2Q
O — Keaton Borelli 38 FG, 1:40 2Q
O — Keaton Borelli 22 FG, 0:00 2Q
O – Hareem Averitte 22 pass from Abe Peoples (Keaton Borelli kick), 9:47 3Q
O — Richard Cantrell 8 run (Keaton Borelli kick), 7:34 3Q

Team stats Sumt Oxf
First Downs 6 18
Rushing Yds 8 193
Passing 13-20-1 9-18-1
Passing Yds 55 130
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 0-0
Penalty Yds 21 78