This past Friday, the Chargers added to their losing streak playing against the Tupelo Golden Wave. The Golden Wave began the game strong scoring on their first offensive play and their first defensive play. Before the half, the Chargers scored their first points of the night making the score 14-7 at halftime. Tupelo would then come out in the second half and dominate over the Chargers scoring 35 unanswered points causing the Chargers to fall to 2-2 on the season.
Tomorrow the Chargers will travel on the road playing against the Starkville Yellowjackets, for this year’s matchup of the Little Egg Bowl, and hoping to bounce back from last week’s setback. Just a season ago, the Yellowjackets won their seventh MHSAA State Championship for the first time since 2015. Last Friday night, Starkville suffered their first loss of the season to the Louisville Wildcats ending 26-22. In the last matchup between these two teams, the Chargers lost at home 47-28.
Oxford players to watch:
Sophomore QB Mitchell Grandjean; Senior QB Peter Grandjean: This season we’ve seen both Grandjean brothers start for the Chargers and take snaps equally during the game. I think tonight we will see that same system be used again for the Chargers. M. Grandjean leads the team in total yards as he is not only a passing threat but also a threat in the run game with 121 rushing yards so far this season.
Sophomore FS Collin Flanigan: Although this is Flanigan’s first season with the Chargers, he has already made a huge impact for the team. Flanigan leads the team in tackles per game with an average of 8.5 and tied for most interceptions with 2 on the season, including a pick-six in the season opener against the Lafayette Commodores. Flanigan also has 27 solo tackles to start off his career at Oxford High.
Starkville players to watch:
Senior QB Trey Petty: Petty is the star of the Yellowjacket offense and is committed to play at the University of Illinois next year. Petty has played for the Yellowjackets every year since his sophomore year at Starkville High. Last season, Petty had a total of 2,737 total yards over the span of their 15 game season.
Prediction:
With the game being a big rivalry between the two teams, I think it will go back and forth all night. I expect the Yellowjackets will start strong in the first half, but the Chargers come back after halftime. Before the clock winds down, the Chargers will come out on top with a game winning field goal by Senior William Wilkinson bringing the Little Egg Bowl trophy back to Oxford. Chargers win 38-35.
