It was a week of mixed results for the Oakdale High School football program as Oakdale took on Manteca in freshman and junior varsity football action.
Oakdale’s freshmen remained unbeaten following a 28-6 victory Thursday night over the visitors. On Friday the junior varsity team suffered a 30-27 road loss.
For the junior varsity a road trip to Manteca to take on the Buffaloes may have ended in defeat but the team did remain competitive. After trailing 8-0 after the first quarter, Oakdale was outscored by Manteca 22-7 in the second quarter to go down 30-7 at halftime. Scoring the lone touchdown for Oakdale in the first half was Christian Ockey, who caught a 13-yard pass from Jackson Holt.
The Mustangs went into the tunnel shell shocked but came out a determined team. Ockey caught a 25-yard pass from Holt in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 30-13. In the fourth quarter Oakdale’s Rylan Kerr found the end zone on a three-yard run to make it 30-20 with 3:33 left to play. On the ensuing kickoff Caden Frazee recovered an onside kick to keep Oakdale’s hopes alive. With 2:10 remaining in the game Zach Aloisio got the away stands on their feet when he came down with a 27-yard touchdown reception to bring Oakdale within three points.
The team’s rally came up short as Manteca moved the ball downfield and ran out the clock.
“It was an exciting second half for us. There was no quit in this team, and has not been all season long. We just had a difficult first half but we will fix those things,” said head coach Matt Miranda.
Oakdale will travel back to Manteca Friday night, Oct. 5 when they take on Sierra. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
FRESHMEN
Following a scoreless first quarter Oakdale found the end zone when Rocky Richardson caught a 24-yard pass from Omar Baez to give Oakdale a 7-0 lead with 7:33 left to play in the half. Manteca scored a touchdown but missed the point after attempt to make it a 7-6 Oakdale lead at halftime. In the third quarter Oakdale added to their lead when Yahir Ayala scored on a four-yard catch off the pass from Baez with 6:30 left in the third. With seven seconds left in the quarter Kevin Camelin scored on a 16-yard catch and run from Baez to go up 21-6.
Oakdale’s defense took care of the rest as Dion Suarez intercepted the ball one yard deep in the end zone and returned it 101 yards for the touchdown with 3:45 left to play, providing the 28-6 final.
This Thursday night, Oct. 4 Oakdale will host Sierra at 6 p.m.
