For the second consecutive season, Oakdale High School came up short in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 championship game. On Friday, Nov. 28, the number two ranked Mustangs traveled to Sacramento City College to face top seed Woodcreek. The two offensive powerhouses combined for 110 points and 15 touchdowns as Woodcreek escaped with a 58-52 victory.
Woodcreek got things rolling on the opening drive of the game when quarterback Josiah Melendez competed a long pass to Ethan Keim for a 58-yard touchdown with 10:10 left in the quarter. The Mustangs countered with a long first quarter drive that resulted in a Wes Burford four-yard rushing touchdown on fourth down with a two-point conversion to go up 8-7 with 5:02 left in the first quarter. Woodcreek did not blink and marched the ball down the field to regain the lead on a Trace Murchison 31-yard rushing touchdown, giving Woodcreek a 14-8 lead with 2:57 left in the first quarter. Oakdale answered with Burford’s second touchdown of the quarter when he scored from a yard out with 1:08 to play in the first quarter – followed by another two-point conversion for Oakdale – to go up 16-14.
The second quarter started off by Melendez slashing the Mustang defense for a 58-yard rushing touchdown just 11 seconds into the second quarter to go up 21-16. Oakdale faced a fourth-and-goal from the four with 5:36 left in the half and quarterback Grant Gardner’s pass sailed to the back of the end zone for an incomplete pass and turnover on downs. Woodcreek took advantage of the turnover and Keim burned the Mustangs defense for a 78-yard catch and run to bring the Woodcreek lead up to 28-16 with 3:47 left in the half. With 18 seconds left in the half, Burford scored his third touchdown of the contest and made it a 28-22 ball game at halftime.
Opening drive of the second half, Oakdale faced a fourth-and-five from the Woodcreek 14 with 7:40 left in the third. A delay of game by Oakdale made it fourth-and-long. Burford’s pass attempt was incomplete resulting in a turnover. The Mustangs did not get discouraged, though, and the defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Gavin Wyatt with 5:57 left in the third quarter at their own 41-yard line. Burford made another house call on a two-yard rush to tie the game at 28 with 2:55 left in the third quarter. The tie would only last a few minutes as Woodcreek scored on a Melendez three-yard rush with just eight seconds left in the quarter to go up 35-28.
The offensive fireworks continued in the fourth quarter, as Burford scored a fifth time on a seven-yard rush less than one minute into the quarter and a successful two-point conversion gave Oakdale a 36-35 lead. But 58 seconds later, Woodcreek found the end zone on a 24-yard reception by Murchison giving Woodcreek a 42-36 lead. Gardner showed his arm strength when he connected on a deep pass to Eli Briseno for a 36-yard touchdown with 8:50 remaining in the game. Another two-point conversion gave the Mustangs a 44-42 lead.
The turning point of the night came when Woodcreek’s Jaxon Karavlan scored on a five-yard rushing touchdown with 7:35 to play and Woodcreek regained the lead 50-44. An onside kick caught Oakdale off guard and Woodcreek recovered it.
“We knew it was a possibility, and when we saw it, we just could not react in time to recover it,” said Oakdale head coach Garrett Martin following the game.
Woodcreek scored on a six-yard Murchison reception with 4:19 left in regulation to extend the lead to 58-44. Oakdale’s final score of the night came on an Anthony Navarro seven-yard rushing score with 3:27 to play, getting the Mustangs to within 58-52.
“These boys played their hearts out and I am very proud of them. Even though it is not the result we wanted, this team is special. They accomplished special things,” said Martin.
Burford carried the ball 41 times (25 times in the first half) for a total of 171 rushing yards.
“This season was special and I will cherish the memories for sure. The one thing that means the most to me though is the bond that this brotherhood formed,” Burford said following the tough loss. “The very best group of guys. I will never forget them.”
