Both sides have plenty of respect for their opponent entering one of the biggest games of the Michigan high school football season in Week 5.
No. 9 Clarkston (4-0) hosts No. 13 Oxford (4-0)
on Friday, Sept. 25, in one of three top-15 matchups in the Week 5 slate. On top of it being a battle of two top-10 Division 1 teams in northern Oakland County, the winner will have the early driver's seat in the OAA Red Conference."They are always a tough team, just like the rest of the OAA Red," said senior Clarkston quarterback Alex Waszczenko, a Ferris State commit. "This year, they are the toughest that we have seen in years. They are really good across the board and we are going to have to be ready for it."
"We know the game and know what it takes," said
Oxford senior running back/cornerback Chris Pullman. "We are 0-3 against Clarkston in our high school years, so it is really big for us. It is the game we've had circled on the calendar the whole year."
Here is a look at both of the OAA Red unbeaten teams heading into their big game on Friday.
Clarkston
The Wolves are the reigning OAA Red champions after a 10-2 campaign that ended in regionals to the eventual state champions. Clarkston graduated a large senior class, leaving some question marks entering 2026, but players have stepped into new or expanded roles seamlessly, allowing them to continue rolling in the first month of the season.
"The biggest thing for us has been being physical on every play," said senior running back/defensive back Ty Duffy, who is one of those players in a bigger role this season. "Honestly, it is just the little things that add up and just knowing you are doing everything you can at 100%."
Clarkston started off the season with a three-touchdown win over South Lyon, who is ranked in Division 2, and a hard-fought 14-7 win over Rochester Hills Stoney Creek. The Wolves have won their last two games against Troy Athens and Rochester Adams, 41-0 and 45-0.
Since giving up a touchdown to South Lyon on the opening drive of the season, Clarkston's defense has only allowed two touchdowns in over three games since then.
"We love to compete," said senior corner/receiver Wendell Childs, a Youngstown State commit. "We are tough and relentless."
Offensively, the Wolves had to replace all five starters on the offensive line. But that group has stepped up to consistently open lanes for Duffy and Waszczenko as runners and protect Waszczenko in the pocket. Duffy is embracing his role as the lead back after splitting carries with Griffin and Lukas Boman as a junior.
Waszczenko, a three-year starter at quarterback, has expanded his passing game while still offering a dangerous threat as a runner. He already has plenty of experience in big games, which has helped him execute in those spots in the first month of 2026.
"Ever since my sophomore year, I feel like I was thrown into the fire pretty early," Waszczenko said. "I've learned how to get out of it, so it is nothing new to me. Now, I've got to be a leader while doing it."
Oxford
The Wildcats returned most key contributors from a 7-3 team that lost in the first round of the playoffs to an undefeated Grand Blanc squad. The premature finish left a sour taste in the mouths of Oxford's current seniors, who have big goals and confidence in their ability.
"We know our talent and are constantly working every day to improve that talent," said senior defensive end Gavin Munson.
Oxford returned 15 starters – nine on offense and six on defense – including its top seven offensive linemen from 2025. That continuity has allowed Oxford to hit the ground running. The Wildcats have won their first four games by an average margin of 30.3 points, including shutting out Hartland in Week 1 and Rochester in Week 4. Sandwiched in between were convincing wins over Athens and Lake Orion.
Oxford's success starts with its rushing attack averaging over 200 yards per game. The offensive line, headlined by two captains, center Aidan Ryan and Central Michigan commit Liam Samborski at left tackle, has created ample space for Oxford's ball-carrying trio.
"Super locked in, super focused," Samborski said. "We've really been hammering in the run game. And in the pass game. We've been good with our protections and everything."
The initial work starts with Ryan, who calls out blitz pick-ups and slide protections from center. He switched after playing at right tackle in 2025. The running game has helped sophomore quarterback Michael King, who is in his first year on varsity.
"I love it," Ryan said of Oxford's rushing attack. "It is so much fun. It is cool to pass the ball and have deep plays, but when you can run on someone, and you can run for 2-300 yards, it beats them down mentally. You can tell by the end of the game that they don't want to hang with you and we did our jobs."
Defensively, a group of experienced players is executing the system with physicality.
"We all trust each other," said senior safety Dylan Dawood. "We all trust the scheme and the coaches, and it has been a big success."
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for theDetroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Clarkston, Oxford football stack up in Friday's undefeated meeting
