By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
IRONDALE-The Oxford Yellow Jackets (3-0, 1-0) came into Frank Nix Stadium Friday night and left with a 42-13 region win over Shades Valley (1-2, 0-1).
Oxford drew blood first on a 51-yard run to take a 7-0 lead at the 9:47 mark.
The Mounties knotted the game at 7-7 after an 11-yard touchdown pass from Steve Brown to Ji’Quez Daniels with 4:23 remaining in the half.
The Yellow Jackets would score again as time expired in the first quarter on a 42-yard run.
Shades Valley’s offense, led by the hard running of senior David Ware, moved into scoring position and scored on a Brown fumble into the endzone that was recovered by Quincy Crawford.
The PAT was blocked, and the Mounties trailed 14-13 with 7:00 remaining in the half.
The Yellow Jackets broke open a close game in a span of fewer than four minutes on Valley mistakes, turnovers, and breakdowns in pass coverage.
Oxford would score three more times before halftime on a six-yard pass with 3:51 remaining, a 28-yard pass with 2:15 remaining, and a 35-yard pass with :17 seconds remaining.
The Mounties headed to the locker room trailing 35-13.
Neither team was able to score in the third quarter.
The Yellow Jackets scored their final touchdown on a 24-yard pass with 6:22 remaining in the game.
The game was hard-hitting and chippy throughout with tempers flaring. The game was halted on two occasions to separate the two teams.
Ware was a bright spot for the Mointies, with 157 yards on 25 carries.
Shades Valley is open next week.