It was all treats and no tricks for Oakdale on the eve of Halloween. Oakdale’s varsity football team hosted Mountain House – the other Mustangs in the Valley Oak League – on Friday night, Oct. 30 and cruised to a 49-6 victory. Oakdale scored all 49 points in the first half and it would be a running clock in the second half.
Oakdale’s first points of the night came on a six-yard touchdown toss from Christian Amerine to Anthony Navarro with 9:05 to play in the first quarter. Rolando Verduzco added the extra point – his first of seven on the night – as Oakdale took the early 7-0 lead.
Oakdale’s defense punished the visitors throughout the night. With 4:42 to play in the first quarter, Luke Sousa recovered a fumble and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown to extend the Mustangs lead to 14-0. The ensuing drive for Mountain House, Beau Kesterson intercepted quarterback Bode Jacobsen at their own 40-yard line with 2:22 left in the quarter. The next play, Andres Ruiz took the ball 60 yards to the end zone to make it a 21-0 ballgame. With nine seconds remaining in the first quarter, Mountain House lined up for a punt at their own 17, and Lukas Winton blocked the punt and Logan Mata scooped it up at nine-yard line and returned it for a touchdown to go up 28-0.
In the second quarter, the defensive dominance continued when Zeke Meza recovered a fumble with 11:47 remaining in the half at the Mountain House 15-yard line. Dex Edwards II scored from five yards out, Oakdale up 35-0. Mountain House faced a fourth and 2 from their own 38-yard line and the pass was dropped for another turnover. Oakdale cashed in on the turnover on downs when Edwards scored from 19 yards out with 7:54 to play in the half. Moments later, Kesterson got his second interception of the half at the Mountain House 45. The next play, Josi Sandoval took it 45 yards to the house giving Oakdale a 49-0 lead with 3:16 to play in the half.
With a running clock in the second half, the only score came with 11:49 to play in the fourth quarter when Jacobsen found Turner from 29 yards out, allowing Mountain House to avoid the shutout.
“Look, tonight’s game was mission accomplished. If we play like this next week however, it won’t be a victory,” said Oakdale coach Garrett Martin.
In that next game, Oakdale faces off at Central Catholic against the Raiders.
“We always say that the expectations are there, even if no one gives us a chance,” added Martin. “We (the team and coaches) always hold a high standard and have high expectations.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 in Modesto; Oakdale is 4-1 in league play while Central Catholic is at 5-0.
