With the way 2020 has been it should not come as a surprise; CenCal announced that the youth football season has officially been cancelled. The announcement came Friday afternoon and Oakdale Stampede president Gene Gilton confirmed the announcement. In a statement from the league it stated that: “As other leagues folded, we made the decision to press forward following both State and local guidelines to be able to continue participation in December as announced by the CIF. As we approach the December start date, we are met with many obstacles and unanswered questions regarding field availability, practice facilities and guidance and direction from city, county and state authorities. We have closely communicated with local school districts and affected parks and recreational authorities throughout this process. As we closely monitor the current status per county of COVID-19 cases and the ever-looming reality that there is a high probability that affected team counties will drop back into more stringent restrictions we can not ignore both the priority and safety of youth sports participation and continuance without interruption through the end of the season.”

The youth program, therefore, will not suit up young football players for a 2020-21 campaign.

In 2019 the Oakdale varsity Stampede team reached the championship game but lost to the Turlock Pride 52-14. The junior varsity team was eliminated in the second round of the postseason with a 12-6 loss to the Livingston Wolves. Oakdale’s peewee team made its exit in the first round as they lost to the Bulldogs of Turlock 38-7.