The case for Oakdale
Really? No kidding? Obviously, the Mustangs must find a way to stop 2014 Player of the Year Justin Rice, which is easier said than done. He rushed for 288 yards on 30 carries in the Nov. 6 matchup and if he repeats that performance, it won’t be good for Oakdale. But Rice is a big play waiting to happen, and that can work in Oakdale’s favor (to a degree). A quick TD strike by Rice means the Central Catholic defense has to return to the field, where the Mustangs’ fast-paced Wing-T attack will be allowed to grind on the Raiders’ defense.
Bring the heat: Oakdale lost two-way lineman Louis Marsella on the first play of the game and that rocked them a little bit. Central Catholic bolted out to a 21-0 lead. Now, can all that be attributed to losing Marsella? Of course not, but some of it can. And Marsella’s return definitely helps with the pass rush. Hunter Petlansky has a tendency to get happy feet in the pocket. Sometimes that works for Central Catholic, because when he tucks the ball and runs, he’s a weapon. He’s a tank at 6-3, 220. But he does have tendency to rush throws from the pocket. The Mustangs need to contain Petlansky and make him hurry throws.
Be special: The Mustangs needed an onside kick and a fake punt, among other things, to rally back from a 21-0 deficit in the first meeting. They’ll need that same kind of magic. Now that doesn’t mean they’ve got to go “Downey Knights” on the Raiders and attempt an onside kick every team. But they do need to be special and efficient on special teams. Lane Trapp can’t afford to miss a field goal, as he did last week. When Oakdale is forced to punt, it must flip the field and force Central Catholic to go the distance. In turn, Central Catholic’s only weakness is its kicking game. Bryce Wade is one of the best kickers in the district, but the Raiders’ punting game leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, Central didn’t have to punt much against the Hillmen, but we think there will be an opportunity for Oakdale to 1) be greedy in the return game and 2) cash in on excellent field position.
Master Merzon: There are some in the Valley Oak League that believe no one is more plugged into the psyche and soul of their players than Trent Merzon. His kids would run through a brick wall for him, and that will the challenge on Friday night. Central Catholic is that solid. The Mustangs will need to match the emotion and energy they played with last week in knocking off Inderkum, a team that was undefeated and rolling after a big win versus Manteca. For many that would be an impossible task, especially this late in the season, but the brilliance of Merzon isn’t just in the Xs and O’s. He speaks to his players better than most.
Flying start: Oakdale might be the best finishing team in the section, but on Friday it will need have its best start of the season. The fast-paced Mustangs have top-end speed, but they’ve been slow to start at times throughout the season. Oakdale trailed Central Catholic 28-10 before mounting a comeback. They found themselves in a tie game with East Union after one quarter and there was a dogfight with Sierra, too. Last week, the Mustangs allowed Inderkum to return the opening kickoff. Oakdale can ill-afford another slow start. To defend its Division III title and reach a regional bowl, Oakdale must establish its physicality and tempo early.
Eagle Scout: Sure, they’ve got to run, that’s Oakdale’s bread-and-butter, but to win they need quarterback Adam Olsen. Central Catholic’s defense is playing its best football of the season right now, but like 95 percent of all high school defenses, the secondary is the vulnerable spot. So Olsen’s going to need one of those 16-of-19, 300-yard, three-touchdown kind of nights. He’s had them in the past. Can he get the time in the face of Central Catholic’s tremendous pressure? He’ll have to.
Bee Sports staff
This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 7:51 PM with the headline "The case for Oakdale."