OXFORD – The record will show that Oxford fell one point short in its 2014 season finale. That the Blackhawks were able to battle back seemed unlikely early in the second half, and that they were in position to win in the final seconds was almost impossible to believe.

Deposit-Hancock denied an Oxford two-point conversion attempt with 4.5 seconds left in regulation hanging on for a 40-39 victory.

The Eagles, 40-6 losers to Tioga last week in the first round of the Class D playoffs, had the game clinched in the final minute, but an ill-advised play call gave Oxford one last chance.

Oxford burned all of its timeouts as Deposit-Hancock converted back-to-back first downs in the last three minutes. Just 30 seconds remained on the clock with Deposit-Hancock leading, 34-33. At this point, most teams take a couple of knees, and call it a night.

Instead, the Eagles ran a naked bootleg with quarterback Ronnie Ballard taking the ball around the right side. The play certainly fooled Oxford’s defense, and Ballard was able to break one tackle near the goal line on a 16-yard score. A missed two-point run kept the game within seven points.

Bryan Simpson returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield, and 14 seconds remained on the clock. Oxford was whistled for a false-start penalty on first down moving it back to its 45. Everyone knew what was coming next, and yet, Deposit-Hancock was unable to stop it.

Oxford junior quarterback Angelo Gonzalez launched a Hail Mary pass down the right sideline to Nick Neer, who pulled the ball in for a 55-yard touchdown. Instead of going for one point and the tie, Oxford attempted a run for the victory, but was stopped less than a yard from the goal line.

The Blackhawks trailed 34-6 with 9:42 left in the third quarter, and nearly pulled off a monumental comeback win. “I think we showed a lot of heart and a lot of guts to come back from being down so much,” said Oxford coach Jeff Newton.

Newton was certainly surprised his team had a chance to get its hands on the ball one more time. “I don’t know why they ran the play (that went for a touchdown),” Newton said. “They gave us another opportunity to win the game.”

Oxford scored on its opening drive, a 46-yard Gonzalez to Kevin Davis pitch and catch, but then fell victim to the turnover bug.

The Eagles cashed in on three Oxford turnovers in the second quarter turning all three into touchdowns. The last of Oxford’s miscues was a 65-yard pick six by Ballard that made it 28-6 at halftime.

The Eagles then drove 65 yards on their opening drive of the second half, and Dane Edwards’ five-yard scoring run had the visiting club up four scores.

From there, Oxford seldom passed, and went to its top two playmakers this season, Neer and Bryan Simpson, to bring it back into the game. Simpson scored on three TD runs in the second half – 1, 47, and 2 yards – finishing with a career-high 171 yards on 25 carries.

Neer’s one-yard scoring run with 11 seconds left in the third drew the Blackhawks to within 34-27. Simpson’s last TD run came with 4:12 left, but the tying extra-point kick was wide right.

Neer had 199 total yards rushing and receiving in the game, and Simpson totaled 187 yards rushing and receiving. In the second half alone, Oxford amassed 301 of its 416 yards. “In the second half, we made some adjustments with our line, and that opened things up in the running game,” Newton said. Oxford also tamped down the number of pass attempts. “We got a little pass-happy in the first half...coaches learn from our mistakes, too.”

Oxford finishes the season at 4-5, a three-win improvement over last year. For the eight departing Oxford seniors, their final game on Tony Abbott Field was quite a swan song. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in this tight of a game my entire coaching career,” Newton said. “I’ll never forget this one.”

Score by quarters

DH 8 20 6 6–40

Oxf. 6 0 21 12–39

Scoring Summary

First quarter

O: Kevin Davis 46 pass from Angelo Gonzalez (kick failed)

DH: Devin Decker 3 run (Ronnie Ballard pass to Jade Wank)

Second quarter

DH: Colby Hall 10 run (pass failed)

DH: Ronnie Ballard 43 run (Ballard pass to Wank)

DH: Ballard 65 interception return (run failed)

Third quarter

DH: Dane Edwards 5 run (run failed)

O: Bryan Simpson 1 run (pass failed)

O: Simpson 47 run (Nick Neer run)