It has been nearly a year since Oxford quarterback Matthew McGuire had his junior season ripped away from him after breaking his collarbone against Seymour just before halftime.
Scrambling out of the backfield to around the 5-yard line, McGuire took a hit out of bounds and landed on his shoulder. It was the fourth game of the season, and it forced Oxford's hand at quarterback.
In came backup quarterback Michael Dorosh, a less experienced version of McGuire who would lead the team to a 3-3 record the rest of the way, just missing the CIAC postseason.
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"When the injury occurred it was devastating for him, Matt (McGuire) is all about football," Oxford coach Joe Stochmal said. "He lives for football, he is the kid who just loves to play the game. When he knew that his season was lost he was devastated, but we talked about his role moving forward and how he would help Michael (Dorosh) learn the position a little bit more. He was kind of a little bit like a coach and he took that role on and now those two are very close."
McGuire took his sideline role to heart, contributing the only way he could.
"He taught me a lot," Dorosh said. "I wasn't fully familiar with the audibles and everything, and I wasn't as smart as him at the position. He helped me become more of a general on the field. I have become more confident on the field, and I don't feel as rushed this year."
While Dorosh grew as a quarterback, it became clear to Stochmal that with both McGuire and Dorosh healthy a year later as seniors, he could have something special brewing.
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So far through two games, McGuire and Dorosh have been utilized in extremely unique ways. Both can play quarterback, both can play receiver, and both can play on defense. With the two quarterback depth, Stochmal is taking advantage.
"Michael (Dorosh) was getting second team reps last year, but to be perfectly honest we were excited about his defensive skill set," Stochmal said. "He was a kid that showed that he can fill in the alley and have some big hits in our scrimmages early on. He was playing rover for us, which is kind of like an outside linebacker and he was doing well. Once we had to install him as our starting quarterback, we had to take that defensive role away from him to limit the chances of him getting injured."
Dorosh was named Oxford's defensive player of the game after making a key interception in the Wolverines' 12-6 win over Waterbury Career Academy in Week 2. In Oxford's 34-0 Week 1 win over Wilby, McGuire was named the offensive player of the game after rushing for 54 yards and two touchdowns on two carries.
"Going into this season we knew that we had to get both of them out on the field," Stochmal said. "We worked on both of them as receivers, so we were able to get them on the field at the same time. They can both throw the ball, they can both run the ball and they can both catch the ball. We are fortunate to have two kids with that set of skills, and we try to use their strengths when they are both out on that field. That is what is great about being able to have two quarterbacks, we can now play both of them on defense and use them on offense."
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In Week 1 the two quarterbacks split time in that role, but McGuire took more snaps in Week 2. Neither is considered more of a starter than the other however.
"It all depends on the game time situation," Stochmal said. "What is the down and distance? Where are we located on the field? What are we looking to do? And then we can fluctuate between the two of them according to that situation."
For most teams, having two players split time at such a integral position can disrupt team chemistry.
For McGuire and Dorosh, who have become increasingly close over the past year, ego is not an issue.
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"We really don't care who plays quarterback as long as we are successful," Dorosh said. "The only thing that matters is that we win. We are always rooting for each other when the other makes a great play."
And the wins have been rolling in through two weeks. On Thursday however, Oxford will face a familiar challenge.
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When Oxford plays Seymour this week, it will attempt to defeat the Wildcats for the first time since 2013, and improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2010.
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"It was disappointing that I couldn't finish out that game last year," McGuire said. "I think Seymour is a great team that is very well coached and has a great tradition. We have a lot of respect for them and I think it is going to be a great challenge for us."
Oxford has outscored its two opponents 46-6 so far and is 2-0 for the first time since 2016, dominating offensively with the running game.
McGuire has rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries while senior running back Christopher Bobbie has 153 rushing yards on 35 carries. Dorosh ranks third on the team in rushing with 56 yards and a touchdown on just three carries. Meanwhile the quarterback duo has combined for 71 passing yards.
"It is better to run the ball if you can do it, because if you throw the ball three things can happen and two of them are bad," Stochmal said. "We try to be a 60-40 split with our run to pass game. But again, the situation dictates how much we throw the ball in a game."
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The plan has worked so far.
With its 10 returning seniors, Oxford is quietly hoping to do something it has never done in program history. Make it to the CIAC postseason.
"We never talk about the 'p-word' around here," Stochmal said. "Not until Week 8 or Week 9 and we see if we have a chance. We try to take things one week at a time. We are happy to be 2-0 right now but we have a great challenge with Seymour on Thursday."
"It is great when you have returning players," Stochmal said. "Some of these guys took their lumps a couple years back because we were starting freshmen and sophomores. They gained valuable experience through those games and it is nice to be able to have those guys for two or three years as starters. We think that if we can take care of the little things, that at the end of the season that we will be sitting where we want to be sitting."