The drive up the hill to Sonora on Friday night, Aug. 19 ended with a win for the Oakdale varsity football Mustangs. However, it didn’t start out well and the visiting Mustangs found themselves on the wrong end of a 21-3 score at halftime.
To their credit, the team stayed the course and continued to chip away at the lead, eventually drawing even with the host Wildcats and then getting past rival Sonora in overtime. It was a win that thrilled the crowd from Oakdale that made the short road trip, supporting the team in their preseason opener.
Sonora took the early lead on a pass completion in the first quarter and added the extra point to go up by 7-0.
Oakdale didn’t do much with its possession but the defense stepped up on the next Sonora offensive series, with an interception giving the ball back to the Mustangs. They were able to parlay that turnover into three points, with a field goal getting them on the board, trailing 7-3, in the second quarter.
Sonora found the end zone again with about 10 minutes left in first half, getting the passing touchdown and the extra point to extend the lead to 14-3. Oakdale looked to get back to the end zone before the break but had to punt the ball away and Sonora made the most of that opportunity. They were able to get another touchdown pass and added the extra point late in the second quarter, taking the 21-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Getting the second half kickoff, the Mustangs were methodical in their march down the field, getting their first touchdown of the night and adding the extra point to make it a 21-10 contest.
That was the score at the end of the third quarter, but Oakdale got a little closer early in the fourth. The defense recovered a Sonora fumble just a minute in to the final frame and worked for a field goal, the Wildcats still leading 21-13.
It was the defense again for Oakdale making things happen, with a fumble recovery leading to a touchdown and a rushing play for the 2-point conversion that tied the game at 21-21. The score came with about eight minutes to go, but neither team could find the end zone again in the fourth quarter, ending regulation in the tie.
Sonora had an opportunity late, with a sack forcing the Mustangs to punt the ball away, but the host squad was not able to capitalize.
It was a missed field goal for Sonora in overtime that turned the ball over to Oakdale and the Mustangs were able to get the go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute to play. The extra point was no good but Sonora could not answer in the final minute of play and Oakdale held on for the hard fought 27-21 victory.
“We had zero turnovers on offense; defensively we forced five turnovers and had one blocked field goal,” said head coach Trent Merzon.
Offensive leaders for Oakdale, added Merzon, were running backs Brian Delte, 22 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns; Zach Stott, 19 carries for 96 yards; Jace Rau, 11 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown; quarterback Mickey Merzon, 5-for-10 for 45 yards; and Brock Osmundson, two field goals.
This week, the varsity Mustangs welcome the Aptos Mariners to The Corral on Friday night, Aug. 26.
All three levels of Oakdale football were victorious for the week. The JV team was on the road at Sonora for a Friday night game prior to the varsity contest, winning in a 40-0 shutout while the freshmen took a 32-0 win over the youngest Wildcats on Thursday, Aug. 18.
