Last week’s MVP: QB Mack Howard (5-10, 164 yards, 3 TDs)

One thing we learned from last week is that the Chargers are going to be a fun team to watch this season. The Chargers will now look ahead to possibly their biggest test of the season, as they head south to face the defending 6A South-half champions, the Brandon Bulldogs. Despite the shortened game length, a new explosive Charger offense was on full display last week in a blowout win over Desoto Central 48-14. The Bulldogs tied with an unfamiliar foe, the 5A West Point Green Wave in a 13-13 two quarter jamboree. In last year’s meeting between the Bulldogs and the Chargers, the Chargers won a thriller in Oxford 24-17.

Players to Watch:

Oxford Senior WR Cashe Shows: Shows is coming off a season in which he led the team in receiving yards and was the star of the receiving room. In last week’s game, Shows had 2 receptions, for 76 yards, in which he took both to the endzone. Shows’ explosive play-making ability will be key for Mack Howard and the Charger offense to air the ball out and make some noise.

Brandon’s HB Room: Brandon’s running back room includes Senior HB Nate Blount, Senior HB Jarvis Durr, and Sophomore MRA Transfer Quincy Phillips. In 2021, the dynamic duo of Blount and Durr combined for over 2,500 yards and 33 touchdowns. With new transfer Quincy Phillips, the run game for Brandon will have both speed and power and will be the ultimate challenge for the Charger defense.

Oxford Senior LB Alex Sanford: Sanford, a 3-star linebacker, Arkansas commit, and a member of the 2022 Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen, was an offensive nightmare all season long for the Charger opponents. The senior linebacker led the team in total tackles with 120, and total TFL with 17. Standing in at around 6’4, 235 lbs, Sanford uses his size and strength to tear down any offensive linemen he will face. The Bulldogs will be challenged by Sanford play after play, so be sure to keep an eye out for big number 0 on the field.

Brandon LB Dysart Bell: Bell, standing in at just 5’10, 215 lbs, is back and better than ever for a solid Brandon defense. Bell is coming off a season in which he led the team in total tackles and tackles for loss with 122 total tackles and 19 TFLs. Bell will be a huge problem for the Chargers in the offensive trenches if they are unable to contain him. Look for this guy to have a big impact on the Charger run game all night long.

X Factor:

Oxford Front Seven: It’s no secret that Brandon can run the ball efficiently, so it will be key for the Charger defensive front to eliminate Brandon from breaking open big plays running the football. Look for guys like Alex Sanford, Martavious Blackmon, Malachi Pegues, and Ty Cohran to slow them down and cause offensive miscues for the Bulldogs.

Prediction:

Sports writers and people all over the state continue to sleep on the Chargers. It seems like every year, the Chargers are always counted out. Somehow a team with two Dandy Dozen members and many veteran players on both sides of the ball are still having to prove people wrong. Per usual, the “experts” are picking against the Chargers. This will be a massive test to begin the year for the Chargers, the Bulldogs come into this game ranked #4 in the state by Maxpreps, so it is no question that this team will be loaded with talent all over the field. The game will go back and forth all night, and will very likely become a shootout. But in the end, the Charger offense and Mack Howard will make one more key play than the Bulldogs and find a way to bring a victory back to Oxford. Chargers win 40-38.