With a huge crowd on both sides of Engel Field – and more in the area past the end zones – it was a game to remember on Friday night, Sept. 6.
The second Battle of 120 pitting Escalon against Oakdale went to the visitors, but it took more than regulation to decide the contest.
Oakdale had built up a 14-0 lead in the game, only to see Escalon battle back with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, sending the game to the OT period. There, the Mustangs went on offense first and got a quick touchdown and point after. Escalon also matched the touchdown on their possession but fell short on a 2-point conversion attempt as they went for the win, losing by a 21-20 final.
“Each team moved the ball, each had over 300 yards of offense,” noted Escalon head coach Andrew Beam. “But it was our inability to settle in on offense that came back to haunt us.”
Escalon took the opening kickoff, after Oakdale won the toss and opted to go on defense first. The Cougars kept the ball for almost the entire first quarter, but came away empty, unable to get into a good rhythm that put any points on the board. Beam said they would make a good play but follow it up with one that went for a loss, moving back and forth on the field but never finding the end zone.
Oakdale had little time to work in the first but did get on the board in the second quarter on a 9-yard pass play, point after attempt failed, to go up by a 6-0 score. Escalon found some offensive life late in the quarter and it seemed as though the home team would at least draw even on the final play of the half, as Chase Cummings got free for a run down the sideline. However, just a yard or so short of the end zone, with Mustangs in pursuit, he stepped out of bounds as time expired in the half, leaving potential points unscored. If he had gotten in, and the Cougars put the kick through, they would have gone into the locker room with a lead as opposed to trailing.
“We’ve really struggled with situational football,” admitted Beam, with players still adjusting to the pace of play that they are seeing this season.
Oakdale scored another touchdown in the third quarter, a 27-yard catch and run, with the 2-point conversion good, putting the visitors up 14-0.
The host Cougars battled back in the fourth quarter, their first touchdown set up by a 32-yard run by Jeremy Grivette. On the next play, a pass from quarterback Logan Huebner was tipped by Oakdale and deflected, but fell into the hands of receiver Dylan Ball, who went in from 32 yards out.
“He had a nice block from Chase Cummings, and Ricardo Felix kicked the extra point,” Beam said.
That got Escalon back in the game, 14-7, and after a strong defensive stand by the Cougars, they were able to convert again on a 13-yard touchdown catch by Ben Gonzalez from Huebner. The kick was good again and it was 14-14.
The teams then traded possessions and each team got a takeaway in the closing seconds, forcing the overtime period.
Four plays into overtime, with Oakdale on offense first, they scored on a nine-yard run and put through the extra point to lead it 21-14.
“We get a penalty on our first play from scrimmage and have a first and 15,” Beam said of Escalon making it tough on themselves when they got the ball. “Then Logan hits a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Ball.”
That made it 21-20 and, rather than go for a tie, Beam set up a 2-point attempt.
“It was a busted play from the start, they got to our quarterback but if we execute that play the way it was intended, I think we win that game,” Beam said.
The pass into the end zone was batted away, though, and the Mustangs escaped with the victory.
“As much as this loss just hurts, I think we got better,” Beam said. “To hold Oakdale to 21 points, just 14 in regulation, we had some guys really step up.”
Daniel Marrufo had a monster night with 14 tackles, Alex Jones and David Ingles added eight apiece. Ryan Lewis had nine tackles, Huebner had five tackles and an interception, while Ball had four tackles, including one that prevented a Mustang touchdown.
Offensively, Huebner was 9-for-14 passing for 181 yards and he carried the ball 11 times for 53 yards. All the touchdowns were via the pass. Ball had 127 total yards and two touchdowns; Grivette had seven carries for 63 yards.
Escalon had five penalties on the night, Oakdale had seven and each team had one turnover. Oakdale had 261 yards on the ground and 51 in the air; Escalon had 127 rushing yards and 181 passing.
The loss put Escalon at 1-2 for their preseason trio of contests; their two losses were by a combined three points, falling 23-21 to Vacaville to open the season and the 21-20 OT loss to Oakdale.
They have a bye on Sept. 13 and open up Trans-Valley League play hosting newcomer Sonora on Sept. 20.
“If we can play defense like we did (against Oakdale) in the TVL and find our offensive rhythm, we’ll be fine,” Beam said.
