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Oxford’s Drew Dean (14) takes the snap against Starkville at Bobby Holcomb Field in Oxford, Miss. on Friday, September 27, 2024. (©Bruce Newman)

Oxford’s runs against Starkville at Bobby Holcomb Field in Oxford, Miss. on Friday, September 27, 2024. (©Bruce Newman)

Oxford’s Jamarion Pegues (20) is tackled by Starkville’s Derion Brownlee (28) at Bobby Holcomb Field in Oxford, Miss. on Friday, September 27, 2024. (©Bruce Newman)

Oxford’s Drew Dean (14) passes against Starkville at Bobby Holcomb Field in Oxford, Miss. on Friday, September 27, 2024. (©Bruce Newman)

Oxford’s Levi Blount (8) catches a pass against Starkville’s Zachariah Hill (22) and Erion Lanier (25) at Bobby Holcomb Field in Oxford, Miss. on Friday, September 27, 2024. (©Bruce Newman)

Starkville’s Jaylon Ruffin (2) fumbles against Oxford at Bobby Holcomb Field in Oxford, Miss. on Friday, September 27, 2024. (©Bruce Newman)

Oxford’s Jarvis Dunn (16) recovers a fumble by Starkville’s Jaylon Ruffin (2) at Bobby Holcomb Field in Oxford, Miss. on Friday, September 27, 2024. (©Bruce Newman)

Oxford’s Hudson Maxcy (17) runs against Starkville at Bobby Holcomb Field in Oxford, Miss. on Friday, September 27, 2024. (©Bruce Newman)

By Myra Bean

The Oxford Chargers feel like they were robbed in their 14-9 loss to Starkville Friday night.

With unrelenting rain and wind, along with wet balls, the two 7A teams battled to the last second.

Oxford turned the ball over on downs from the one-yard line with 10 seconds left in the game.  Starkville got the ball for the last play and tried to throw it out of the back of the end zone, but dropped the ball. The Chargers recovered for what they thought was a touchdown but it went out of bounds and was called a safety.

The Chargers got the free kick with five seconds left in the game and did the lateral a few times, but fumbled and Starkville recovered to end the game.

Starkville scored first on a 25-yard pass in the first quarter with 7:58 to go for the 7-0 lead. Oxford tied the game on a five-yard run by quarterback Drew Dean with 1:18 to go in the first quarter. Michael Thompson’s PAT tied the game at seven. The score stood at halftime.

Starkville broke the tie on a two-yard run with 10:29 left in the game. With the PAT, led 14-7, before the safety.

Oxford’s defense stood strong throughout the night forcing a turnover on downs and recovering a fumble in the Starkville red zone.

The Chargers fall to 1-4 and will be open next week. They return to action Friday, Oct. 11 to open conference play at home against Horn Lake (4-1). Horn Lake defeated Pure Academy tonight 32-0.

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