The OHS football team’s season came to an early ending this year after losing in the first round of playoffs. The Chargers opened their season with the Crosstown Classic at home against the Lafayette Commodores. With many questions rising during the offseason after the loss of many key players from the season prior, the Chargers used this game to provide some answers. The offense lit up the scoreboard, scoring a total of 45 points on 499 total all purpose yards. The defense kept the Commodores at rest all game, and did not allow a single point. Sophomore quarterback Drew Dean was awarded the Great American Rivalry Series most valuable player in the game.
Coming off of a big 45-0 rivalry win, the Chargers were ready to face off in their week two match up against South Panola. Leading the way with 244 yards, senior wide receiver Levi Blount helped the team come from behind and tie the game 34-34 late in the game. In the final minutes, the Tigers were able to find the endzone once again and win by the final score of 41-34, sparking the beginning of a rough stretch for the Oxford Chargers.
Oxford then spent the next two weeks on the road at Grenada and Tupelo and would end up dropping both of those games by the finals 41-22 and 34-10 respectively. Now sitting at 1-3, the Chargers were approaching their final non-region game against their rival, the Starkville Yellowjackets. In this rivalry, anything can happen. In the case of this game, Hurricane Helene caused massive rain and wind that kept both offenses from recording explosive plays on the field and held each team to one touchdown a piece in the first half. The Yellowjackets were able to tag on one touchdown in the second half which was enough to come away with a 14-9 victory in the 2024 Little Egg Bowl.
A much needed bye week came in week six as the Chargers began to prepare for the five game region schedule. Opening region play at home against Horn Lake, the Chargers were ready to get back into the win column. A tied 28-28 score at halftime gave the Chargers the opportunity to take firm control of the game. The defense caused four turnovers in this game and gave the offense prime field position to put up 20 points in the second half. The Chargers would win this game 48-28, landing themselves back in the win column.
For game seven, the Chargers found themselves back on the road at DeSoto Central. Early in the game, each team was able to find the endzone tying the game at 7-7. Before the half, the Jaguars added another six points to their score sending the Charger into the locker room down 13-7. As the Chargers were unable to execute on offense during most of the second half, they were left with one final drive to come away with a victory. Making their way over 60 yards down the field, Dean was able to sneak into the endzone in the final seconds giving the Chargers a 14-13 win over DeSoto Central.
Coming off of a two game win streak, the Chargers were ready to roll through the rest of the region schedule. Out-scoring their final three opponents 121-23, the Chargers earned the title of Region 1 7A champions for the second year in a row giving them the number one seed in the playoffs.
For the second season in a row, the Chargers were matched up with the four seeded Germantown Mavericks in the first round of playoffs. But this game concluded with a different outcome than the Chargers hoped for. By the final score of 43-34, Germantown came out with a victory in round one and put an end to the Chargers’ season.
Next season, the Chargers transition into Region 2 7A and will match up against Starkville, Germantown, Mur- rah, Madison Central and Clinton during their region schedule. Once again, key positions on both sides of the ball are waiting to be filled.
