OXFORD – Oxford fans will always remember the night it renamed its football field in honor of retired teacher and football coach Tony Abbott. The game; however, was something Blackhawks supporters would prefer to soon forget.
Visiting Sidney gashed the Oxford defense for 613 total yards of offense, and sent the club to its third loss in as many outings Friday night, 46-6.
Sidney senior quarterback Patrick Vibbard ran for two touchdowns and passed for 217 yards and two more scores. The Warriors’ offense sliced through the Oxford defense with ease scoring touchdowns on five of its six first-half possessions.
“We didn’t do a good job of playing our responsibilities,” said Oxford coach Ray Dayton. “When that happens against a good opponent like Sidney, this is what happens.”
Sidney averaged nearly 14 yards a play in the opening stanza marching for three quick touchdowns. Vibbard hurt the Blackhawks with option keepers out of the spread formation, and his first carry netted 32 yards to reach the Oxford four. Two plays later, Vibbard scored from one yard out.
Oxford set out to drive for the tying score taking the ball on its first possesion from near midfield to the Sidney three. A big fourth-down completion from Angelo Gonzalez to Cameron Heggie extended the drive, but Gonzalez’s fourth-down pass in the end zone was knocked down by Sidney’s Brandon Bessett.