Oakdale High’s 49-6 lead in the third quarter of their season opening varsity football game against Modesto Christian sent a distinct message that the Mustangs were simply too much for the reigning small school state champions to handle on Friday at The Corral.Oakdale rallied from a 6-0 deficit with seven unanswered touchdowns, closing with a 56-20 blowout in week ‘0’ of the young season. The Mustangs rallied to 528 total yards of offense.“Kids did a good job,” Oakdale football coach Trent Merzon said. “Good win.”The victory paved way to this week’s annual match-up between Oakdale and Turlock at THS on Friday, Sept. 3. The Bulldogs, 33-20 victors over Downey, will look to find some Division I revenge after Oakdale’s 56-6 landslide in 2009.In the Aug. 27 contest, Modesto Christian forced a Mustang punt before a long third down could result in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Sudfield to UCLA-bound Raymond Nelson.Oakdale fired back with a long drive and a six-yard score by Daniel Linder to take a 7-6 lead. In the second quarter, Oakdale drives brought the ball deep into the red zone, where fullback/linebacker A.C. Brown enjoyed his first-ever rushing touchdowns of 10 and two yards. Linder’s 15-yard push to pay dirt with 35 seconds to play in the second quarter left Oakdale with an impressive 28-6 lead at the half.In the third, Oakdale linemen cleared the way for a 43-yard jaunt and score by Gino Valente, and protected sophomore quarterback Spencer Thomas for touchdown passes of 15 and 40 yards to Marcus Northcutt and Zach Abbott, respectively.MC’s Sudfield ran for a score and tossed one more in the fourth, but Oakdale closed on a 72-yard explosion by Jeff Donnelly to finish strong.Linder finished with 167 yards on 22 rushes, most coming from sweeps to the left side of the field. Thomas, participating in his varsity contest, handled it like a seasoned veteran with 84 yards through the air and a 5-for-9 completion ratio. Valente (nine rushes, 86 yards) and Donnelly (5-89) also came through big.Oakdale takes on host Turlock at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, The JV team, which dropped a 34-6 decision to Modesto Christian, plays Turlock at 5:30 p.m.
Mustangs Throttle Reigning State Champs In Season Opener
