This Friday night, the CIF State Champion football Mustangs will take the practice field for the first time in the 2017 campaign.

During the offseason, The Corral got a makeover and it will be the first time that the Mustangs will get on the newly refurbished field under the lights. The returning state champions traveled down to La Jolla last December to demolish Bishop’s 47-0 to bring home the state title.

This year the team will have several returning key players to help guide the new faces on the team. Some of the returning players on offense include Marc Dickson, Cameron Cherry, Bronson Harmon, Kyle Seese, Jorge Barajas and Conner Reed. On the defensive side Jace Krick, Matt Kjeldgaard, Nico Serale, Levi Ichord, Corey Hinojosa, CJ Toledo and Zac Campbell lead the way for the Mustangs.

One of the key elements that make the Mustangs a successful program is the unselfishness that this team shows, noted head coach Trent Merzon. He said players have volunteered to “fill holes” or move to less glamorous positions to help the team. Kyle Seese has moved from tight end to guard and Corey Hinojosa has moved to inside linebacker. Also making a switch on the field is Josh Jacobson. Jacobson was very dangerous in the secondary a year ago and will become a new member of the team’s backfield on offense to become the team’s fullback.

This offseason has been full of positives for some of these athletes. Following football last year, Bronson Harmon went on to compete in the State Wrestling Tournament in Bakersfield; Matt Kjeldgaard signed a National Letter of Intent to Fresno State for football and Nico Serale is currently mulling over his post-high school plans with offers from nearly a dozen colleges, including some DI schools.

Oakdale opens the season on the road against Sonora on Friday, Aug. 25, looking to return the favor from last year, when the Wildcats took a win on Oakdale turf.