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Mustangs Vanquish Vanden, Ready For Inderkum
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With no time remaining on the game clock, Vanden High running back Damon Treat bullied into the Oakdale end zone from just a yard out, bringing the host Viking fans to their feet on the final play of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinals on Friday.But while Vanden fans celebrated their last score of the season, a louder, larger regiment of Mustang faithful bellowed cheers from nearly every position surrounding Vanden’s artificial turf, where Oakdale had waged a 56-14 throttling of the higher seeded Vikings.With the win, the Mustangs move on to face D-III No. 1 seed, Inderkum, on Friday in the SJS semifinals.“We thought we could play well and we thought we could obviously win, but we thought it would be one of those tough games, we didn’t see this coming,” Oakdale coach Trent Merzon said. “Everything went our way early and our defense played awesome early.”Oakdale’s starting defense did not surrender a touchdown and the starting offense rumbled to a 35-0 lead at the half. Oakdale’s second team offense scored on a 25-yard jaunt from Daniel Linder to put the team up 56-0, though Vanden rallied to scores on their final two possessions of the game with Mustang starters on the sideline.It did little to tarnish a game where Oakdale runners powered to 402 yards on the ground.Devin Brooks scored on a 27-yard gain and finished with a game high 167 yards on 20 rushes. Fullback Tim House battered up the middle for 118 yards on 16 rushes with touchdown runs of seven, 16 and 10 yards, and a 1-yard TD plunge.Oakdale also scored on defense. Cornerback Nate Madsen (two picks) took an interception return 30 yards to pay dirt while linebacker Charlie Gilstrap intercepted a cross and outran Vanden’s fastest offensive players for a 40 yard nail-in-the-Vanden-coffin just four plays into the second half.It was Gilstrap’s first touchdown of an illustrious high school career in the heart of the Mustang defense.“I saw how fast (Treat) was on game film, so the whole time I was running to the end zone the only thing I thought was ‘please don’t catch me’,” Gilstrap said, laughing. “It felt great but I wish I could have enjoyed it a little more. I was a little tired at the end of that run.”Offensively, Oakdale was held from scoring in just four drives. Quarterback Robert Stout completed one of his two passes for 14 yards to Madsen while Blake Raham (four rushes, 55 yards) and Jeff Donnally (49-yard carry) also found success on the ground.Vanden managed 385 total yards, though plenty of that came off Oakdale reserve players with the game well in check. Vanden quarterback Ben Scott completed 15 of 28 passes for 263 yards, with three interceptions and an 18-yard touchdown to Sacramento State bound Chris Broadnax.The Mustangs will prepare all week for a bout with the top seeded D-III program on the road on Friday. Inderkum (12-0) has won every game this season by 13 or more points, and topped Casa Roble 60-6 last week to advance to Friday’s semifinal.Three players topped the 100-yard mark in that contest, including 6 foot, 200 pound senior Antonio Bumpers, who has 1,901 yards with 33 touchdowns on 208 carries this year. Tigers senior Demetrius Williams (6-0, 180) has also completed 56 of 90 passes for 1,141 yards, five interceptions and 16 scores this season.Defensively, the Tigers are led by 6-1 250-pound defensive lineman David Weider (70 tackles), blitzing defensive back Jordan Adams (12 sacks) and sure-handed corner Garrett Brewer (eight interceptions).The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Inderkum’s Sacramento campus. Box ScoreOakdale 56Vanden 14Oakdale                7 28 14 7 ¾ 56Vanden                  0 0 0 14 ¾ 14 First quarterOakdale - Tim House 7 run (Kyle Derby kick), 3:50. Second quarterOakdale - House 16 run (Derby kick), 11:10.Oakdale – Nate Madsen 30 interception return (Derby kick), 10:59Oakdale – House 1 run (Derby kick), 7:53Oakdale – Devin Brooks 27 run (Derby kick), 7:03 Third quarterOakdale – Charlie Gilstrap 40 interception return (Derby kick), 11:01.Oakdale – House 1 run (Derby kick). 4:11. Fourth quarterOakdale – Daniel Linder 25 run (Derby kick), 8:57.Vanden - Chris Broadnax 24 pass from Ben Scott (Dejonte' M. Ewell catch), 6:11Vanden – Damon Treat 1 run (no kick), 0:0 Game Stats Oak                        VanFirst Downs                           16                           19Total Net Yards                   415                         385Rushing Yards                      402                         122Passing Yards                       13                           263Turnovers                              1                              4