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Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Oakdale clears first hurdle against Manteca

Mustangs earn a victory in first of a rugged three-game stretch

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OAKDALE -- Seventy-eight yards one direction and four inches the other. Those were the crucial measurements in a showdown between the Stanislaus District's top-ranked schools.

"Our big players came to play tonight, and so did Oakdale's," Manteca coach Eric Reis said. "It was the game I think we were all expecting."

The outcome came down to a handful of plays as top-ranked Oakdale High used a long run on offense and a fourth-quarter stop on defense for a 35-23 Valley Oak League win over No. 2 Manteca.

The victory leaves the Mustangs (8-0, 5-0) alone in first place, with Manteca (5-3, 3-2) two games back. Sierra and Sonora (both 7-1, 4-1) are a game behind -- but they play Oakdale the next two weeks.

"We got the game we needed from Manteca, someone to challenge us so we could see how we'd respond," said halfback Devin Brooks, who had 14 carries for 114 yards. "We knew we just had to grind this out."

While much of Oakdale's offense came from short runs, there were a handful of big plays.

Brooks provided one with 20 seconds left in the first half and Oakdale clinging to a 14-10 lead.

On third-and-6 at his 22, Brooks followed center Joey Machado and right guard Monty Monlux for what looked to be a short gain -- Oakdale was looking for a first down to run out the clock.

"I took a step forward and saw a huge hole in front of me," said Brooks, considered the VOL's fastest player based on his 100-meter dash time.

He shot through the hole and, after making an adjustment near midfield to avoid a defender, raced 78 yards for a TD and a 21-10 halftime lead.

"We played a great first half and we're within four, then he springs that play," Reis said. "It was tough going into the locker room after that one."

If it fazed the Buffaloes, they didn't show it.

Manteca dominated the third quarter with two TDs, driving 72 yards for one and turning a fumble by Oakdale fullback Tim House into a second score for a 23-21 lead. House got some revenge with a 1-yard TD dive early in the fourth quarter to give Oakdale a 28-23 lead.

That led to the defensive stand that decided the game.

Manteca, with backup Matt Burrows (13 of 18, 188 yards) and tailback Marquis Miller (32 carries, 154 yards) leading the way, got to the Mustangs' 16 with 6 minutes to play.

Cornerback Nathan Madsen tipped away a potential TD pass on second down, before Miller bust up the middle for 7 yards to make it fourth-and-2 at the 9. The Buffs ran their powerful back up the middle on fourth down, but he collided with 600 pounds of defense at the line and fell four inches short of the first.

"I read the quarterback and saw he was going my way," said Madsen, who broke up three passes. "I saw the ball in the air, and I knew my best bet was to leap for it. It's one of those feelings you get."

Oakdale gained a first down with 4:36 left, but Manteca cut down House two plays later for no gain and Oakdale had a third-and-4 with 2:54 to play.

The defense stacked on the line and smothered House (24 carries, 101 yards, three TDs) as he bulled up the middle -- only he didn't have the ball.

Quarterback Robert Stout's deft ballhandling fooled the Buffs, as he tucked it against his hip and instead gave it to wingback Blake Raham (11 carries, 155 yards). Raham dodged a blitzing cornerback and sprinted 58 yards to set up House's 1-yard TD run.

It wasn't until that moment that Oakdale could relax.

Reis was proud of his resilient team, particularly since quarterback Matt Barber left the game in the first quarter with a concussion. It was the first loss of Burrows' career, as he led the Buffs' freshman and sophomore teams to undefeated seasons the last two years.

"Barber's going to miss one week with the concussion," Reis said, noting Barber was physically OK beyond having his head hit the turf when he was hit as he released a pass.

While disappointed in the loss, Manteca got some good news with the play of Reggie Bell, their acrobatic receiver.

A preseason all-Stanislaus District receiver, Bell had just 18 catches for 175 yards through seven games. He had nine catches for 135 yards against Oakdale.