Oakdale rolls past previously unbeaten Inderkum to reach D-III title game

If the Oakdale High Mustangs need to out-pound you, they will. They’ll also out-kick you, out-run you or, if it’s necessary, reel you in from behind.

Ask the Inderkum Tigers of Sacramento.

The Mustangs (12-1), riding the mojo of The Corral like a surfer at Waimea Bay, did all of the above Friday night to beat previously unbeaten Inderkum 51-38. Their reward is a rematch against Central Catholic, which dealt Oakdale its only loss, 42-37, on Nov. 6, for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III title next Friday night at Lincoln.

“Our kids kind of dug deep and did what our kids do,” Oakdale coach Trent Merzon. “This is a special group.”

(Videp: Pigskin Postgame Wrap)

Merzon referred to, among others, seniors Brad Aquino (28 carries, 105 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Austin Burke (17 carries, 140 yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD). They fueled Oakdale’s Wing-T attack that galloped for 353 rushing yards. Aquino didn’t start a varsity game until this season. Burke was a soccer player until he tried out for the football team as a junior.

“He (Burke) is an amazing player. You don’t need to play football since age 6,” Merzon said. “He’s an extremely tough and passionate kid.”

Aquino would have notched a sixth touchdown but deliberately went down inside the 5 to run out the clock in the final seconds. And early in the fourth quarter after Inderkum closed to 37-32, Burke out-ran Inderkum’s Isaiah Crocker in a virtual match race 58 yards to the end zone.

Inderkum probably has seen enough of the Mustangs. In last year’s section final, Oakdale shook off a 20-0 halftime deficit to overtake the Tigers 27-23. One year later, Inderkum again landed the first punch when Crocker patiently weaved down the Oakdale sideline 97 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff.

Oakdale responded emphatically with touchdown marches of 64 and 81 yards. Aquino capped the first drive with a 1-yard run, and Burke caught a 12-yard pass from senior quarterback Adam Olsen.

“All the teams we play against are bigger and faster than us,” Aquino said. “We win by gritting it through.”

The game’s rhythm was thus: Inderkum’s explosion versus Oakdale’s grind. The grind prevailed. The Mustangs outgained the visitors 453-302.

That said, the game swung on Oakdale’s dizzying 23-point flurry during a 4:31 span of the second quarter. A 16-14 Inderkum lead flipped to the Mustangs 37-16.

Aquino bookended the rally with touchdowns, but it was the middle portion that Inderkum regretted. Josh Falo reached high to catch a punt snap but, after a moment’s hesitation, elected to run and was tackled at his own 1 by Oakdale’s Robby Bagley. Aquino scored on the next play.

Moments later, Inderkum quarterback Trajon Cotton – chased by the pass rush – threw incomplete from his own end zone. He was penalized for intentional grounding, resulting in a safety. Three plays after the free kick, Aquino ripped 25 yards up the middle and into the end zone.

“When it gets rocking in there (The Corral), it can be tough on anyone,” Merzon said.

Inderkum (12-1) answered with a 78-yard push and pulled to 37-24 on a 5-yard run by Cotton. Four straight successful two-point conversions also kept the Tigers in contention.

“They (Inderkum) showed a little bit of what they’re made of. We almost had a chance to close them out,” Merzon said. “They’re a great team.”

Inderkum’s only problem is running headlong into the Mustangs each November. Olsen, a four-year varsity player and two-year starter, showed his experience by completing seven of 10 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown and also raced to the corner for an important deuce in the fourth quarter.

“We wanted to pound the ball. We’re Oakdale. That’s what we do,” Olsen said. “We felt confident that after we established the run, we also could pass. It all worked out.”

The Mustangs are positioned for their second straight section title and fifth overall. They also recognize too well the barrier standing in front of them.

“We know a Valley Oak League team will win the section title. We’re proud of that,” Merzon said. “I guess it’s a best-case scenario. We win and it’s a section title. We lose and Central Catholic goes to Division II next year. It sounds like a win-win for us.”

Makes sense. Beating Oakdale never is easy.

This story was originally published November 28, 2015 at 12:37 AM with the headline "Oakdale rolls past previously unbeaten Inderkum to reach D-III title game."