Lions fall short at top-ranked Oxford
OXFORD – A couple mistakes provided all the cushion top-ranked Oxford High School needed on Friday night, as Briarwood fell to the top-ranked Class 6A team 35-14 in the second round of the state playoffs at Lamar Field.
Briarwood (8-3) executed its opening script of plays to perfection. Luke Reebals busted a 41-yard run and Christopher Vizzina scored on a 15-yard run two plays later to give the Lions an early 7-0 edge.
But the Lions turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions to start the second quarter, allowing Oxford to turn a 7-7 game into a 21-7 Yellow Jackets advantage.
“A few turnovers cost us early,” Briarwood head coach Matthew Forester said following the game. “Take those away and it’s a different ball game. But in the playoffs, turnovers can be killers. We know that and we’ll learn from it.”
Oxford’s Keeshon Siaosi scored on his first two carries of the game, a 9-yard run to tie the game in the opening quarter and a 10-yard run to make it 14-7 early in the second quarter. Briarwood’s second turnover in as many offensive snaps led to Trey Higgins finding Roc Taylor for a perfectly floated deep ball and a 49-yard touchdown. The Yellow Jackets took that 21-7 edge into the halftime break.
“They’re really good, they’ve got a lot of playmakers and they’re really athletic, so it’s a tough, physical matchup,” Forester said. “We fought hard. I’m proud of our guys and proud of this senior class and all they’ve accomplished.”
Oxford (11-1) marched down the field on the opening drive of the third quarter and scored on Higgins’ 14-yard pass to Taylor. Higgins later scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter, plunging into the end zone from a yard out.
After its opening score, Briarwood struggled to move the ball consistently, totaling just 156 yards on the evening. Vizzina finished the night 8-of-17 for 87 yards. Luke Reebals had nearly 100 all-purpose yards, going for 60 rushing yards and 39 receiving yards.
Oxford’s offense featured a balanced attack, as the Jackets posted 221 rushing yards and 228 yards through the air. Higgins as 10-of-18 through the air and rushed for 86 yards on 23 carries. Siaosi finished with 75 yards on the night, while Trequon Fegans had 73 yards on three carries.
Taylor scored both touchdowns through the air and had five grabs for 81 yards. Warren Britt had a big evening as well, catching four passes for 101 yards.
Despite the numbers, Briarwood’s defense competed the entire evening. Parker Hutson picked off a Higgins pass and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Hutson and Holden Patterson each registered sacks in a span of three plays late in the first to thwart an Oxford drive as well.
Briarwood took part in the state playoffs for the 28th consecutive season, finishing second in Class 6A, Region 5. The Lions’ only region loss was to Mountain Brook, which advanced to the quarterfinals with its win over Gardendale.
“Even though the season ended shorter than we’d like, we do know we battled every week and we had an incredible season,” Forester said. “To be in a region that was really strong, to do as well as we did, I’m really proud.”
Forester also lauded his senior class, which won 29 games over the last three years.
“We had 20 seniors, all of them were bought in and committed,” Forester said. “Guys that played a ton of ball and make you think, ‘Man, we’re going to miss those guys.’ They carried on the Briarwood legacy.”
Oxford advances to the quarterfinals next week and will play at Pinson Valley.
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