The Oakdale varsity Mustangs football team improved to a perfect 5-0 in the Valley Oak League (VOL) standings after blasting Weston Ranch 58-20 in Stockton. On Friday night, Oct. 23 the Mustangs went into Stockton and declawed the Cougars on their Senior Night.
Oakdale’s offense got off to a rare slow start, despite scoring the game’s first touchdown on a Brad Aquino one-yard run with 4:58 left in the first quarter. Weston Ranch countered the Mustangs score with a game tying 80-yard run down the sidelines 13 seconds later. The Mustangs answered with a 29-yard field goal by Lane Trapp to put Oakdale up 10-7 with 3:08 remaining in the opening quarter. Ben Solario recovered the ensuing kickoff as it was mishandled by Weston Ranch at the Cougars’ 21. Penalties and negative yards knocked the Mustangs out of field goal range and they could not take advantage. As time expired in the first quarter, Weston Ranch scored on an 80-yard pass to take a 14-10 advantage after the opening frame. That would be the last Weston Ranch score until a meaningless, too little-too late touchdown with 16 seconds left in the game.
Austin Burke returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to give Oakdale excellent field position. Senior Bobby DePuy found the end zone on an 11-yard rush to give the lead back to Oakdale 17-10 with 9:32 left in the half. Oakdale scored three more times before the end of the half, two of them on Aquino rushes from 21 and 50 yards out. An interception by Zac Thomas with 35 seconds left gave Oakdale the ball at their own 39 yard line. The Mustangs marched down the field setting up kicker Trapp who connected on a 17 yard chip shot as time expired in the second half to give Oakdale a 34-14 halftime lead.
The Mustangs received the second half kickoff and struck again on Aquino’s fourth and final touchdown when he plowed through the defense from two yards out 1:56 seconds into the half. Aquino carried the ball 17 times for 165 yards and scored four touchdowns. Oakdale added three more points to their lead on a Trapp 39-yard field goal.
“I just have to keep my composure and stay focused when I’m out there for an attempt,” said the sure-legged senior, who connected on all three field goal attempts. Oakdale led 47-14 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Wes Leijten and Vincent Albertoni each found the end zone for the Mustangs to give Oakdale the 58-14 lead.
With two games remaining, Oakdale is currently tied with Central Catholic on top of the VOL standings. The two will meet in Modesto for the regular season finale on Friday, Nov. 6. However, the Mustangs face off with the Manteca Buffaloes (4-1) this Friday night for Senior Night at The Corral. The night’s festivities begin at halftime of the junior varsity game.
