Oakdale Mustangs

Coach: Trent Merzon

Career record: 116-30-1

Record at school: 116-30-1

Last year: Oakdale (13-1, 7-0) played for the section Division 3 title for the second year in a row, losing again to Del Oro. It went 3-0 vs. playoff-bound teams in the preseason, its closest league win was by 30 points and won its first three playoff games by an average score of 51-17 and set the school record for most wins in a season.

Last league title: 2011

Last playoff berth: 2011

Coaching staff: Hondo Arpoika (defensive coordinator), Tim Meyer (QBs, DBs), Greg Ratto (DL), Zack Quaccia (OL), Alex Anderson (WR), Guy Fowler (strength)

Top returners: DL Hondo Arpoika (5-9, 210), DL Miko Arpoika (5-11, 195), DL Nikk Ryan (6-0, 210), LB Bastian Jimenez (5-10, 170), DB Nik Garza (5-8, 170), DB Eddie Machado (5-8, 160), DL Eric Barragan (5-10, 250), LB CJ Picinich (6-0, 215), OL Ty Malone (5-10, 175), QB Spencer Thomas (6-1, 180), RB Marcus Northcutt (5-9, 170), RB Josh Watts (6-2, 205), WR Austin Jones (6-2, 215).

Top newcomers: DB Tanner Morgan (5-9, 160, jr.), LB Bailey Dryden (6-1, 185, jr.), OL Brynden McAndrews (6-0, 185, jr.), WR Dewayne Finney (6-2, 175), TE Landon Ichord (5-11, 215, soph.), RB Max Stevens (5-5, 140, soph.), DB Brock Whiting (6-0, 190, soph.), Erickson Dickens (6-3, 220), OL Kyle Peterson (6-2, 210, jr,).

Outlook: Mustangs fans have been pointing to 2012 since this senior class showed up on campus. Thomas (78 of 139, 1,566 yards, 14 TDs, 3 INTs), Northcutt (1,227 yards, 7.9-yard avg., 9 TDs), Jimenez and the Arpoika twins were varsity starters as a sophomores and have helped Oakdale to back-to-back Division 3 section finals – this will be their last crack at a section title. … Eight starters return from an aggressive defense, including the physical Ryan at one end and the Arpoikas anchoring the line. Jones is expected to fill the hybrid LB role that helped make Marcus Hernandez The Bee’s Player of the Year in 2011. … Three sophomores promoted and a lot of eyes are on Ichord, a tight end whose blocking could make him an asset in the running game. … Watts replaces Hernandez at fullback in the explosive Wing-T, while Northcutt returns to play the wing and will be a threat every time he gets outside the defensive end. … Has Oakdale ever had a more difficult schedule? Turlock, mighty Oceanside in SoCal and Aptos await the first three weeks – then the VOL opener has Oakdale on the road facing co-favorite Sierra.

Key game: Week 1 (Aug. 31) vs. Oceanside. Oakdale has aspirations of playing in a State Bowl, and this showcase game against one of Southern California’s elite programs could earn the Mustangs that berth. The Mustangs need to show they are strong enough to control the line, and whether they have the depth to battle a physical team like Oceanside.