OAKMAN – The Oakman Wildcats came into Thursday’s game riding a 2-game winning streak over their cross-county rival Cordova.
The Blue Devils were able to get their first win of the season while ending the rivalry skid with a decisive 35-3 victory behind a huge 21-point fourth quarter surge.
The Blue Devils were led offensively by junior running back David Odom and senior quarterback Cody Hedrick. Odom reached the century mark for the 2nd straight week, leading all rushers with 183 yards on 12 carries with three touchdowns. Hedrick finished with nine completions on 18 attempts for 157 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
However, the Wildcats did not go down without a fight. Oakman was able to create turnovers when both Bridger Upton and Logan Tarvin came up with interceptions to end two promising Blue Devil drives. The game was held scoreless until 1:37 left in the 1st quarter when Odom scored his first touchdown of the night, scampering 28 yds untouched. The touchdown drive was set up after recovering a Oakman fumble.
The first half was a back and fourth battle that came to a close with Cordova leading 7-0.
The Wildcats came out of the locker room with a vengeance as Luke Martin and a host of Wildcats combined to force a Cordova fumble, which was recovered by Oakman’s Kaysen Dickerson on the opening kickoff of the second half. The Cats were not able to get the ball in the endzone after multiple offensive mishaps. The drive ended with when a Cordova defender intercepted sophomore quarterback Trace Cagle’s pass attempt.
But this was not the end of the Wildcats, as they refused to walk silently. Sophomore Defensive Lineman Carson Gilliand forced a fumble that was picked up and advanced to the Cordova 8 yard line by Trace Cagle. After a penalty and a few negative plays, with 6:12 remaining in the 3rd quarter, the Cats cut the lead to 7-3 with a 24 yard field goal by first year kicker Mathew Bowinkle.
The Wildcats were not able sustain the momentum as the Blue Devils scored again with 1:10 left in the third and did not look back as they scored three unanswered touchdowns in the final period to route Oakman by a score of 35-3 behind the defensive efforts of Cade Chanell (4 tackles for loss) and Braxton Kitchens.
The Wildcats were led offensively and defensively by sophomores Upton and Cagle. Upton ended the night with 92 yds of total offense and two interceptions while Cagle finished with 107 yards of total offense, five solo tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Blue Devils (1-1) will hit the road next week, in Class 4A, Region 5 play against the Haleyville Lions. Meanwhile, Oakman (0-2) will continue to seek their first win of the season as they welcome new Class 3A, Region 5 foe the Midfield Patriots.
