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Tough Playoff Road Looms For Mustangs
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After scoring a touchdown, Oakdale’s Wes Burford holds the football high in the air in the end zone as teammates Gavin Gleason, 54, and Charlie Kjeldgaard, 38, join in the celebration. Oakdale defeated Merced on Nov. 10 to advance to the Section semifinal round. See game story, additional photos in Sports, Page A11. Jeff Kettering/The Leader

A victory in the quarterfinals on Nov. 10 in The Corral earned Oakdale a trip to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 football semifinal round.

But the Mustangs are looking at a long trip and a tough opponent awaiting them on Friday night, Nov. 17. Hosting the game in Sacramento will be the top seed, the Grant Pacers.

Oakdale, after a first-round bye, upended the visiting Merced Bears in the quarterfinals by a 56-35 final. The Mustangs came in as the number four seed, Merced was number five.

Grant, as the top seed, also had a first-round bye and then demolished number eight seed Linden, 82-7, in quarterfinal play on Nov. 17.

The Grant Pacers finished the season with a 9-2 overall record and went 5-1 in the Metropolitan League. Grant finished second in the league after falling to Monterey Trail 35-34 on Oct. 20. Since that loss, the Pacers have outscored their opponents 130-14.

Oakdale has compiled an 8-3 overall record and finished third in the Valley Oak League at 3-2.

The semifinal round game is scheduled at Grant High School, 1400 Grand Ave., Sacramento. Kickoff for the Friday night battle is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The winner of this game will take on the winner of the number two seed Woodcreek/number three seed Vanden semifinal contest in the Division 3 Section finals.