OXFORD – Hard defensive stances by Oxford, deep throws and a 96-yard touchdown run by the Yellow Jackets’ Tyetus Smith Lindsey proved to be too much for the Bearcats, who fell 38-14 Friday night.
Cullman could not gain traction in the first half while no. 8 ranked Oxford put up 14 unanswered points to end the first half 21-7. The Bearcats’ first drive was shut down by the Yellow Jackets. Oxford went to work, scoring on its first drive of the game to put them up 7-0.
Cullman’s next drive was heart-stopping for Bearcats’ fans as the team dropped passes and allowed an interception, but a penalty on Oxford gave Cullman new life. It was short-lived, though, and the Bearcats were forced to punt to the hungry Yellow Jackets.
The third play in the series proved to be a momentum shifter for Cullman, when Dylon Wallace snagged a tipped ball to give the Bearcats the ball back at Oxford’s 43-yard line. A hard run by Ezra Burks followed by two passes to Carson Freeman, had Fletcher Jennings and the Bearcats tied with Oxford 7-7 as the first quarter expired.
However, the momentum shifted back to Oxford when Jennings was rocked by a hard hit resulting in an interception; due to a roughing the passer call, Cullman was given another shot. Two plays later Jennings was leveled again and picked off by Oxford’s Jordan Swain, who took it in for the pick six. The Yellow Jackets tacked on the extra point, pulling ahead 14-7 off Jennings’ first interception of the season.
Burks, Freeman and Jennings tried to keep the Bearcats close, but hard defensive stands would not allow Cullman to move the ball freely. Once Oxford saw an opening the Yellow Jackets took it in the form of Brody Syer, who took a short screen pass and turned it into a first-and-goal from Cullman’s 1-yard line, following a 64-yard reception and penalty on Cullman. Oxford punched it in and left the field at halftime leading 21-7.
The Bearcats came out in the second half ready to take it to the Yellow Jackets, but Oxford only gave up one more touchdown to Cullman following a fumble recovery on Oxford’s 1-yard line. This allowed Burks to stroll in to bring the game to a 21-14 deficit.
Cullman was not allowed entrance into the end zone for the rest of the game, while Oxford continued to pound the ball, ending the game 38-14.
The Bearcats will return home to take on Ft. Payne on Friday, Sept. 22.
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