Friday night, Aug. 23, the Oakdale High School varsity football team traveled to Sonora for the preseason opener. After building up a 21-10 lead with 10:10 remaining in the game, Oakdale saw their lead evaporate and lost by a final score of 31-21.
“Sonora is a very good football team and we just were not prepared; and that is my fault,” said Oakdale second-year head coach Garrett Martin following the loss.
Sonora scored the first three points of the game with a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter. Oakdale countered with a 38-yard receiving touchdown by Ricky Torrez from his quarterback Grant Gardner with 11:52 left in the half. That was the only reception of the game by Torrez. The Wildcats quickly regained the lead on a quarterback keeper by Eli Ingalls from one yard out just 16 seconds later to go up 10-7, a lead they would take into the locker room at halftime.
In the third, Oakdale scored the only points of the quarter on a 26-yard receiving touchdown by Gavin Wyatt with 4:31 on the clock to take a 14-10 lead. Oakdale seemed to then take control of the rivalry game when Wes Burford scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown with 10:10 left in the game to go up 21-10.
But Sonora’s fierce – and rapid – rally began when Ingalls scored his second rushing touchdown of the night on an eight-yard keeper with 7:59 left. On the following kickoff Oakdale fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Wildcats at Oakdale’s 23-yard line. On their first play from scrimmage, Cash Byington rushed from 23 yards out for the score and Sonora took a 24-21 advantage with 7:48 remaining.
The host Wildcats put the finishing touches on Oakdale when Byington scored his second touchdown from four yards out with 3:11 left in the game to go up 31-21.
Oakdale’s struggles came in the form of turnovers. Gardner finished the game going 3-for-10 for 64 yards passing with two touchdowns and he also tossed two interceptions. He did carry the ball three times for 25 yards.
The Mustangs also struggled to pick up first downs and had turnovers on downs throughout the evening. In the second half, Oakdale had a fourth-and-1 from the Sonora five-yard line and Burford was stuffed for no gain. Later in the quarter Oakdale faced a fourth-and-6 from the Sonora 32 and Gardner tried to pick it up using his legs but was stopped for no gain. With 7:48 left in regulation, the Mustangs once again faced a fourth-and-5 and came up short when Burford stretched for the first down but didn’t quite reach the line.
Oakdale’s defense did give Sonora some fits. Malachi Modesto and Matthew Cooley made multiple big plays for the Mustangs on defense, including a fumble recovery for Modesto and both made crucial stops in the red zone. Burford, who played both offense and defense, also came up with a fumble recovery for the Mustangs.
Oakdale will be at home and look to regroup when they host Galena this Friday night, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. The Grizzlies are 2-0 on the season and will travel from Reno, Nevada for the game. The Grizzlies are coming off a 29-6 home win over Chavez.
