A LEGACY RENEWED

OXFORD’S PATH TO THE 2019 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

By Joshua Craft

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOTBALL TEAMS. There are good teams, fair teams, great teams, and to be honest, there are bad teams as well. Good teams, fair teams, and even great teams most likely will manage expectations for players and fans, and there will be few, if any, surprises throughout the season. Every now and then, we get to watch or even be a part of a team that is beyond all of that. Not only do they win, but they find ways to transcend the barriers of the gridiron and get an entire community to rally behind them. Yes, they win, and a legacy is renewed. I will tell you a true story about one of those teams that did just that – a team that rose to become champions. I will tell you a true story of a new coach that made an impact on his first day at Oxford and has raised the bar for Oxford football. I will tell you the story of the football team that rallied around him and their fellow players from day one, and I will tell you the story of the fans, former players, and alumni that are excited about what has happened and about what is yet to come. THIS IS THE STORY OF THE 2019 OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM AND HOW THEIR NAMES ARE NOW IMMORTALIZED IN THE ARCHIVES OF OUR CITY’S HISTORY.

When Coach Keith Etheredge and his family were introduced at an Oxford City Schools board meeting and press conference in May, the meeting room was at capacity to hear what the new head football coach had to say. His message was simple: the goal was to go undefeated every year and win the state championship. You could hear a pin drop in the meeting room when he said that. I was there, and I was considering the lofty goal he had set for the team. My next thought was that this man had moxie. When I got a chance to speak with Coach Etheredge after the press conference, my doubt turned into a belief that this coach could do what he said he was going to do. I was interviewing him after the season, and he had this to say:

I had great interviews and interview process. I just think it was a situation where I knew it was going to be a great move for me if it was possible. I just wanted to present what I could bring to the table for the City of Oxford, for the school system, and for these young men and women here at this school. I think that Oxford’s always been a great place. Oxford is a place that doesn’t have a roof. The sky’s the limit. There’s great leadership here. There are people who want it to be great. They want to grow, and they want it to be considered one of the mega school systems in the state of Alabama.

I want to point out that he said, verbatim, the sky was the limit. That may be a common thing to say, but what he meant by that was that he believed in Oxford from the moment he walked into the board office to accept the head football coaching position.

I do not know if any of us were ready for what was about to happen in our hometown. I will take a less scientific stance and say that I believe that the “ghosts of Lamar Field”—the ones who have coached, played, or even stepped on the hallowed grounds—were pleased with the result. You could sense the excitement in the board meeting, and when I was walking by the school later that evening, it was almost as if you could hear them voicing their approval.

I would like to begin this story by walking you through the life a high school football player. I am proud that I was able to play under the Lamar Field lights during my years in school. I will be upfront about my career: it was cut short in 2003 due to a traumatic brain injury I sustained and I was told by numerous doctors that my football career was over. This was a shock to me, who had been raised around it and had played the game since I was in elementary school. I will admit that I had no offers from colleges when my career ended, but I will say I was fairly decent; playing on the offensive line and a little on the defensive line was rewarding, and I developed a camaraderie with my teammates before and after my injury. I cannot speak for my junior and senior years on the team, but I do remember the early morning and late afternoon practices.

I remember the three-a-day practices a few weeks before school started, and I remember being at the field house or on the practice field from dawn till dusk. This was over a decade ago, and I can tell you from first-hand experience that in order to be a great team, everyone has to work harder every day. That is the only way to perfect your craft. Is it difficult? Absolutely. It requires hard work, dedication, and a tough mentality, but the grind can pay off in the end, so you work harder each day.

I had the privilege of being invited by Coach Etheredge to watch some of Oxford High School’s practices, and I was amazed at how the coaching methods and drills had become more fast-paced since I played. I got to coach during the transition from a more methodical practice with full contact to the more drill-oriented, station-to-station football sessions that are common with today’s teams. Everyone on the Yellow Jacket football team – from the coaches to the equipment managers – had a specific task at each station, and it was a sight to see. My teammates were a hard-nosed bunch, but I am not sure if we could follow the demands of these types of practices.

Then the regular season starts. All the preparation we have put into practice will now hopefully produce wins. Oxford has an expectation of winning the first game so the season can begin with a high note. I am sure that all coaches have similarities in their opening speeches to their teams. “Let’s go out there and win!” is probably the most common phrase one will hear in the locker room on Friday night, and I am almost positive that Coach Etheredge said something to that effect. On that night, Oxford defeated Munford 42-7, and the season was off to a great start.

Fast-forward four weeks, and Oxford is undefeated in the regular season at 4-0 and 1-0 in 6A, Region 6. Now, they have to travel to face the top-ranked team in 6A and the two-time defending state champion Pinson Valley Indians. I remember arriving at their high school in Jefferson County and already seeing the visiting side of the stadium at standing-room only. I had two travel partners on this trip, Tull Wigley, who grew up in Oxford and now lives out-of-state with his wife, Linda, and John Tolsch, who has been with me to countless football games through the years, and we all stood near the end zone and watched the game from there. I remember looking at the crowd in amazement as they were cheering for the Yellow Jackets, even when they were down 19-0 and were able to put a touchdown on the scoreboard near the end of the first half. Oxford came roaring back in the third quarter and took a 27-19 lead into the fourth quarter, but Pinson Valley did not become the two-time defending state champion by a fluke; they have been here before, and they were able to grab the lead late in the game, 33-27. Many fans may have counted Oxford out after the series of unfortunate events that led to the Indians retaking the lead, but there was some magic left for the Yellow Jackets. With under two minutes left to play, quarterback Trey Higgins heaved a ball to end zone, it was tipped by a defender, and then it somehow ended up in the hands of Oxford’s Miguel Mitchell. After the extra point, Oxford was ahead 34-33 and would go on to be the first 6A team to defeat Pinson Valley since 2016. Tull, John, and I were celebrating all the way back to Oxford. For the second time in the season, you could hear the ghosts of Lamar Field crying out, but louder this time. It was as if they had been patiently waiting 26 years for this team. Even though the win against Pinson Valley put Oxford in first place in the region, there was still work to be done. After two wins against region opponents Huffman and Shades Valley, it was time for the Yellow Jackets to return to Lamar Field and face regional foe Clay-Chalkville, a team that Oxford had not beaten in the last five games they played against each other. After a hard-fought game that came down to the wire, Oxford was on the losing end of a 26-21 battle that extended the losing streak to the Cougars to six games. This also put our hometown team in an awkward situation, because there was still one region game left to be played against Gardendale, who had beaten Clay-Chalkville earlier in the season, and the region championship would be decided against them. If we win, we finish first; if we lose, we finish fourth and have a much tougher battle getting to the finals. The ghosts of Lamar Field were again crying out; they have been patiently waiting since 1993, and now they know that Oxford has to win, and they are rallying their spirits to help the team recover quickly from defeat.

The next Friday night, Oxford defeated Gardendale and secured the top spot in 6A, Region 6. They did not do it easily, and even Coach Etheredge said that his team needed to be humbled after the loss to Clay-Chalkville. “We thought we were really good, and I knew that we were, but we needed something before the playoffs that would check us. No one wanted to lose; I hate losing, but a little humbling can break you up or wake you up, and we woke up after that game.” After the win against Gardendale, Oxford could start preparing for the most hardfought and entertaining five game set that I have ever seen. We thought we were really good, and I knew that we were, but we needed something before the playoffs that would check us. No one wanted to lose; I hate losing, but a little humbling can break you up or wake you up, and we woke up after that game. after the game against Gardendale, Oxford could start preparing for the most hard-fought and entertaining five game set that I have ever seen.

The Yellow Jackets coasted through the first two rounds of the playoffs, defeating Chelsea and Cullman with relative ease. The quarterfinals were upon us, and we were about to face the team that had been the albatross around our necks, the Clay-Chalkville Cougars. We could end the losing streak on this night, and the stands were filled with fans who wanted to see victory. Our opponents jumped out to an early lead to make it 13-6 at the half, but the defense, with shades of the notorious “Black Death” defense that helped win the 1988, 1989, and 1993 state titles, did not allow a point in the second half, and Oxford had finally defeated the Cougars in a hard fought 20-13 victory. The ghosts of Lamar Field were again crying out, but this time they were voicing their pleasure. Maybe they had some insight of what was about to happen.

There was only one game to go before the Yellow Jackets could finally return to the state championship game, which would also be their first appearance in the 6A title game. The team had to play another familiar opponent, the Pinson Valley Indians. As someone who has coached before, I can say this as a matter of fact: it is difficult to beat a team that is the caliber of Pinson Valley once, but twice? It does not happen often. You have already thrown the kitchen sink in to beat them the first time, so you have to work twice as hard to claim victory once more.

The semifinal game was a magical ride of ups and downs for both teams. Retired coach and administrator Wayne Caldwell and I always perch up in the press box for the home games, and we love to break down the plays and give each other insight into what the teams are doing. We have fun up there, but we also critique each play and give our thoughts to each other. Pinson Valley was up 21-17, and it was late in 4th quarter, and it was 4th down and goal to go to for the Oxford Yellow Jackets from the 13 yard line. Coach Caldwell and I, along with everyone in the press box, were on our feet and discussing how great the season has been. We were aware of the moment that was quickly fleeting. A win would take two miracles: a touchdown on this play and a defensive stop or a turnover. Then, it happened. Quarterback Trey Higgins threw a prayer up to all-state wide receiver Roc Taylor in the end zone, and he brought it down for a touchdown. It was a classic play that we have all seen, a “rub” play, in which one receiver’s route causes them to collide with a defender covering another receiver, and it could not have been scripted any better. The score was now 24-21 after the extra point. Now, the defense had to stop the Indians. With just under a minute to play, Trequon Fegans intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown, and Oxford had a little breathing room as the scoreboard changed to 31-21. Pinson Valley was not done yet. There was a reason they won the previous two 6A state championships, and they tested our mettle with under a minute to play. After the kickoff, they scored quickly and brought it to 31-28 with seconds left in the game. A failed onside kick attempt put Oxford in position to take a knee and run out the clock. The crowd has not been that wild since our run to the semifinals in 2011, when Oxford defeated Mountain Brook in the third round in a three-overtime thriller. At this moment, we were – for the first time ever – headed to the 6A state championship game. You could sense the ghosts of the past football teams rallying around this team. They were preparing for one final game, one final moment of glory.

I got the privilege to speak to the team a couple of days before the title game. I gave them one word to remember, which was “legacy.” I implored them to leave their legacy on the field. If they win, the names on this team would be etched in stone so all of Oxford could remember them. This team could accomplish what no team before them could accomplish, and that was to bring the 6A football title to Oxford. This was their moment, and the Yellow Jackets had a chance to catch this moment of glory that awaited them in Auburn. The ghosts of Lamar Field were crying out in earnest; they were yearning to have their legacy restored. To be honest, this was my first time to give a speech to a team preparing to go and play for a state championship. I never got to give that speech as a coach nor did I ever hear it as a player, but I felt as though this was for all of us who had stepped on Lamar Field on a Friday night. It was their time to shine, but it was greater than that. It was our time. It was Oxford’s time.

Oxford was slated to play Spanish Fort on the next Friday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Oxford. My co-worker, Emil Loeken, and I had the opportunity to capture these moments on the sidelines with cameras in hand. I took my travel partners Tull Wigley and John Tolsch down to Auburn for the state championship game, and they watched the game from the press box or the stands. I met Emil in the press area a few minutes before kickoff, and I remember seeing a sea of black and gold and red and black as fans from both teams filled the collegiate venue. With a record-breaking 30,000 fans that were there to watch the final game of the Alabama Super 7 Football Championships, you could sense the excitement of what was about to happen. As Emil and I walked down from the press area to the field, I basked in the moment. I never got to experience this as a player or coach, so I was determined to soak it in, if only for a brief moment, so I could try and catch just a small glimpse of what it was like to be part of a team that was 48 minutes away from a title crown. It was amazing to have that feeling again. They were ready. I could feel it. I could sense the legacy being renewed. The ghosts were there, and they were ready for it, too.

It had been raining in Auburn throughout the week of the championships, but the field was in surprisingly decent condition for the final game of the Super 7. Oxford was able to score in the second quarter and took a 7-0 lead into halftime, but the Spanish Fort Toros were not going to give up that easily. They tied the game up, and then took a 13-7 lead late in the fourth quarter, but they missed their extra point, which happened to be a very important mistake by the 6A finalists. After Oxford quarterback Trey Higgins was injured in the third quarter, Zay Britt, the all-purpose back who was instrumental in many wins throughout the season, was called to take his place. I remember two things that happened to me in the fourth quarter. I was with Emil for most of it, and he was asking me my thoughts on the game. When Spanish Fort took the lead, I remember telling him “I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all.” I was worried for the first time in a long time about our chances to win. After they took the lead, there were a few drives by each team that resulted in no points. With under two minutes left to play, with Oxford trailing by six and Britt still leading the offense, Emil came to me again. We had to score a touchdown on this drive or we would lose. He knew that. I knew that. He asked me how I was feeling then. I remember saying with confidence “I am fine. We are going to win. We have come back before; we were made to do this.” He looked at me with a little doubt, but I reassured him that it was Oxford’s moment.

It was their time to shine, but it was greater than that. It was our time. It was Oxford’s time.

Several big plays later, and Oxford is on the 5-yard line with 23 seconds to go. Britt handed the ball to Trequon Fegans, who ran it in for the game tying score. The crowd was going wild, and Emil approached me again. I remember telling him that we still had to make the extra point, and seconds later, Andrew Warhurst, with the weight of Jordan-Hare Stadium on his shoulders, kicked it square through the uprights to give the mighty Jackets a 14-13 lead with seconds remaining. Spanish Fort fumbled the kickoff a few moments later, and Oxford recovered. Trey Higgins, though wounded, came out to take the final knee of the game, and the celebration began. Oxford had risen to the top of the mountain and could finally proclaim that they were 6A state champions. Though they were almost 100 miles away, you could hear them, you could feel them; the ghosts of Lamar Field were celebrating a legacy renewed.

What a ride it was in 2019. We had highs and lows, and we never quit. The community gathered around Coach Keith Etheredge’s team, and it became Oxford’s team. There was a motto that Etheredge told me he uses with his teams, and that is simply “G3: Give God the Glory.” I believe that this team honored Him, and they honored us. They honored the ghosts of Lamar Field, and they brought the coveted “blue map” back to Oxford.

If you are in Oxford on a Friday night during football season, listen for the Lamar Field ghosts crying out to the team; listen for them rallying around the legacy they created. They are patiently waiting for the next season. They are waiting for the legacy to continue, and they know the truth: the sky is the limit.