In their football preseason opener on Aug. 28, Oakdale’s varsity Mustangs went on the road and benefited from miscues and turnovers at Sonora to bring home a win. This week, Oakdale committed turnovers and could not convert on fourth downs, ultimately resulting in a 27-21 home loss to Lincoln of Stockton on Friday, Sept. 4.
Oakdale started the game off with an onside kick that resulted in Beau Kesterson recovering it at the Lincoln 41-yard line. Later in the drive Oakdale faced a fourth-and-13 from the Linden 18-yard line. Quarterback Christian Amerine was sacked at the 27-yard line resulting in a turnover on downs with 7:44 to play in the quarter.
Lincoln scored the first points of the night with 3:22 left in the first quarter when Maleak Soy caught a 15-yard touchdown from Julian Perez to go up 7-0. This would be the score heading into the second quarter. However, the Trojans extended their lead when Kesean McCullough broke free for a 62-yard catch and run less than a minute into the second quarter to make it a 14-0 advantage. The Mustangs marched down the field and got on the board when Anthony Navarro rushed his way for a 12-yard touchdown that made it a 7-0 game following a successful PAT by Rolando Verduzco held by Lucas Oberg with 6:24 remaining in the half. Just three minutes later, Lincoln’s Kyle Munoz rushed for a seven-yard touchdown to go up 21-7. With 2:43 left in the half, Amerine lost the ball at the Lincoln 43-yard line and it was recovered by Lincoln. Munoz and the Trojans took advantage of the turnover as Munoz scored his second touchdown of the quarter from three yards out to go up 27-7 with less than a minute to play in the half.
With 5:55 to play in the third quarter, Navarro was stopped short of the first down at the Lincoln nine-yard line for a turnover on downs. The Trojans were marching down the field but on fourth-and-5 from the Lincoln 45, Alex Rador got a sack to stop the drive with 1:01 left to play in the third quarter. Rador finished with two sacks on the night. The score would hold up after the third quarter.
The fourth quarter saw Oakdale score with just under eight minutes remaining when Oberg threw a 47-yard touchdown to Luke Sousa on a trick play to make it 27-14. The Mustangs scored again when Navarro rushed in from a yard out with 4:21 to play, making it 27-21. Oakdale’s final chance to cap off the comeback came with 17.6 seconds left when they forced a turnover on downs deep in their own territory. A pair of incomplete passes and a false start made it third-and-15 from their own 15-yard line. With four seconds left in the game Amerine threw an interception to end Oakdale’s potential game-winning drive. Amerine finished the night 2-for-10 for 24 yards with an interception. He was sacked twice as well. Navarro carried the ball 29 times for 196 yards and a touchdown.
“Last week we were on the other side of the turnover battle and got a win; tonight we had multiple fumbles, and other mistakes. Our program does not accept fumbles, it’s just something we do not do,” said Mustangs head coach Garrett Martin following the loss. “Our players battled in the second half. That was great to see how they would respond following a difficult first half. These (preseason/non-conference) games are designed to show us how we match up against other schools and prepare us for league games. Tonight was a test for sure.”
This upcoming Friday night Oakdale (1-1) clashes with winless Escalon on the road with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff time; it is the annual Battle of 120 with the 120 Trophy up for grabs. Oakdale has won the game the past two years to hang on to the trophy that was won by Escalon during the inaugural Battle of 120 contest in 2023.
Oakdale’s JV team improved to 2-0 as they defeated Lincoln by a 21-14 final while the freshmen ended the week at 1-1 with a loss to Lincoln on the road, 28-16.
VOLLEYBALL
A Sept. 2 win went in the books as a 3-0 sweep for Oakdale over Mountain House, and then the varsity girls headed to the High Sierra Invitational for multiple games in Reno over the weekend.
On Sept. 4, they lost to Rocklin and Galena and defeated Northgate; on Sept. 5 they lost to Escalon and Northgate but got wins over Smith Valley and Churchill County.
BOYS WATER POLO
Playing some non-league opponents as they gear up for the regular season, the varsity water polo boys were 12-11 overtime winers against Christian Brothers on Sept. 4 and also roughed up Gregori that same day, 15-4. On Sept. 5, the boys found themselves on the wrong end of two contests, losing to River City and Oak Ridge.
GIRLS TENNIS
Splitting some Valley Oak League matches this past week, it was an 8-1 win for the varsity girls on the tennis court over East Union on Sept. 1. The girls then fell by a 9-0 decision to Mountain House on Sept. 3.
FLAG FOOBALL
The varsity Lady Mustangs were shut out, 42-0, in a game against East Union on Sept. 1.
Editor Marg Jackson contributed to this report.
