Read Full Article Here: Oakdale Grinds Past Campo
By Nate Smith – Prep2Prep.com
It was simply too much Will Semone for Campolindo to handle, despite quarterback Jacob Westphal and the Cougars’ final gritty effort.
Semone ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:44 left in the game, as visiting Oakdale rallied from two different first-half deficits to win, 28-21, in a game between section heavyweights.
Oakdale’s game-winning drive came immediately after Campolindo had tied the game on Jacob Westphal’s 10-yard strike in the front left corner to John Torchio, the second scoring connection between those two in the game. The Mustangs, however, responded by taking nearly eight minutes off the clock on the ensuing 62-yard scoring drive.
From almost the start, the game played out as a battle between two very different opposing forces. Campolindo had its way through the air offensively, as Westphal threw for 334 yards on 21-of-32 passing. In the first half, it appeared Oakdale had no answer for Vincent Mossotti, who had three first-half receptions of 37 yards or longer, including a 38-yard score in the first quarter. He would finish the game with five catches for 144 yards.
As the game wore on, however, the Mustangs’ offensive line and the powerful running of Semone took its toll on the undersized Cougars’ defensive front.
“This was a great team win tonight,” Semone said. “My line did amazing, and our defense did a great job of keeping us in good field position tonight.”
Oakdale’s two second half scoring drives were a thing of beauty – if you like a slow, methodical, punishing style of football. In addition to Semone’s big night, Bronson Harmon ran for a six-yard score near the end of the third quarter to give the Mustangs their first lead of the night, 21-14. He finished the game with nine carries for 64 yards, with 47 of those yards coming in the second half.
The Mustangs defense also came up big in two critical moments. The first moment occurred midway through the third quarter, when Campolindo had driven inside the Oakdale 25-yard line. Westphal’s next pass was tipped, however, and Sean Gingerich came up with a huge interception on the Mustangs’ 15-yard line.
The second stop came on the Cougars’ final possession of the game. Westphal guided Campolindo down to the Oakdale 18-yard line, with a minute remaining, but passes on both third and fourth down fell incomplete, and the Mustangs needed just one first down run from Semone to kill the clock.