For the first time since 2013, the Oakdale High School Mustang varsity football team came up on the wrong side of the scoreboard inside The Corral. On Friday night, Oct. 26 the Mustangs hosted Central Catholic in the 2018 regular season finale and were shell-shocked by the visitors, 54-14.

Central Catholic (9-1, 6-0) played spoiler to the Oakdale Mustangs’ (7-3, 4-2) Senior Night. The large crowd on hand began the night energetic but shortly after kickoff, Central Catholic had the student section and the entire home stands held to a mild roar. The Raiders scored less than four minutes into the game on a 56-yard catch and run by Sitri Price. Minutes later, Minaya Olivo scored on a 17-yard rushing touchdown. Olivo finished the day with 106 rushing yards and three touchdowns and also caught a 58-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter for the Raiders.

The visitors scored the first 40 points of the game before Hayden Knittel connected with Caleb Kuppens from eight yards out to put Oakdale on the board with 3:25 left in the first half. Oakdale was down 47-7 at halftime. Neither team scored in the third quarter but each managed to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter during a running clock. Oakdale’s long scoring drought came to an end when Zeke Saffar scored on a rushing play. Saffar finished the night with 15 carries for 169 yards and the touchdown. Outside of Saffar’s triple-digit figures on the ground, the Raiders held the Mustangs backfield in line. Max Moore was held to 37 yards and Kuppens carried the ball six times for just two yards.

In the air, Knittel was 6-for-15 for 87 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Mustangs defense was carried by Peyton Bradford who had a handful of tackles and on special teams blocked two point after touchdown attempts.

“This was a bad night. We let ourselves down, our families down and our community tonight, plain and simple,” said Mustangs head coach Trent Merzon. “We couldn’t get anything going tonight and they (Central Catholic) made all the big plays.”