Oakdale’s Will Semone stood out throughout the game on Friday night, scoring three touchdowns with 295 rushing yards, lifting the Mustangs to a 63-35 win over Vista Del Lago.
After trailing 19-14 at the end of one quarter, the Mustangs exploded for 35 second-quarter points, and headed to halftime with a 49-27 lead. Semone got the big quarter going with a long touchdown run, four minutes into the quarter, while Cameron Cherry and Marc Dickson also contributed to the outburst.
Vista del Lago actually struck first, courtesy of a Matthew Koet and two-point conversion, for an 8-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Bronson Harmon broke loose for Oakdale, however, on the next possession, cutting the lead to 8-7 less than two minutes later. Touchdowns from Brenden Hall and Cade Baders were sandwiched around a Semone score to round out the first-quarter action.
In case the Eagles were intent on a second-half comeback, Oakdale put things away early in the third, when Harmon scored again on a seven-yard run, just over three minutes into the second half. Semone closed out the Mustangs' scoring with a 68-yard jaunt early in the fourth quarter.
“Oakdale had a great performance tonight and that’s what got us,” said Vista del Lago coach Mike Struebing. ”We are going to work on improving as a team into the next season and it’s going to take some work, as this is just the start. I told my players to enjoy time with their family and focus on performing better next season.”
“Everything starts up front and that's what got us to sixty three points tonight," said Oakdale coach Trent Merzon.”We have some work to do during this Thanksgiving week and we are going to practice hard for Friday against Merced.”
In other Division III action, third-seeded Christian Brothers defeated eleventh-seeded Burbank 21-14, and will face second-seeded American Canyon, who defeated seventh-seeded Yuba City 39-8.
Oakdale advances to face fifth-seeded Merced,who beat fourth-seeded Del Campo 41-32.
All semifinal games will be played on Friday, with game time set for 7:00 pm.
