Oakdale powers past pesky Enochs to win 49-35 in both teams’ final nonleague game

The Oakdale High football team defeated Enochs 49-35 in a nonleague game at Downey High in Modesto on Friday night.

But talking to the two teams’ head coaches after the game, you would’ve thought Enochs had won.

Enochs head coach Tracey Traub was elated that his team was able to go toe-to-toe with the Mustangs, one of the area’s perennial powers.

First-year Oakdale coach Garrett Martin, meanwhile, lamented the fact that his team had made so many mistakes to keep the game relatively close.

Oakdale sophomore running Wes Burford ran for four touchdowns and a 2-point conversion and the Mustangs really only stopped themselves in what could’ve been — and perhaps should’ve been — an easy victory.

“I think we’re doing a good job with a lot of things,” said Martin, Oakdale’s first-year head coach. “But we are making young, or inexperienced — or in some instances, maybe it comes back on us — poorly coached mistakes.

“On offense, I thought we moved the ball tonight. The only time we got stopped is when we made penalties, made mistakes. Defensively, we’re getting there.”

Oakdale’s running game ran at will against an overmatched Enochs defense, chewing up 370 yards on the ground, including 209 in the first half.



Despite that, Enochs was able to remain in the game behind the running of Aiden Muhammad (121 yards, 2 TDs) and the passing of new starting quarterback Johnny Staggs. Junior receiver Eric Myles also scored twice for the Eagles, on a 9-yard TD reception and 6-yard TD run.

Traub lauded his team’s effort. The Eagles trailed 34-16 at halftime but pulled to within six points with just over 7 minutes left.

A long Oakdale drive ate up the clock and Burford’s 1-yard TD plunge put the Mustangs up by two touchdowns with 2 minutes left.

“Our guys, I challenged them at halftime,” Traub said. “I’m like, ‘The game isn’t over, there’s a lot of game left. Let’s come back and fight.’

“I’m just proud of the heart. Man, these guys fought like hell. I can’t be prouder of my guys right now than this game right here.”

Oakdale is ready for tough VOL season

The young Mustangs, who improved to 4-1 on Friday, may not be as strong as some of their great teams in recent memory. But if they do have a down year in the VOL, their league opponents better enjoy it while they can.

Oakdale looks set for a few years with a backfield tandem that did major damage against Enochs.

Not only did Burford run for his four TDs, fellow sophomore Chase Lopez was explosive, too, and scored on an 8-yard TD run in the second quarter.

“They’ve done a great job doing what we ask of them,” Martin said of his young runners. “They’re getting better every week, which we love to see just because they’re so young.”

Oakdale’s Cameron Gutherie may have had the highlight of the night.

After Enochs had pulled within 28-16 late in the second quarter, the senior took a pooch kickoff and ran 79 yards for a touchdown that put the Mustangs up by 18 at halftime.

The Mustangs open Valley Oak League play next Friday at Sierra.

Burford said his team will be ready.

“We made little mistakes and stuff that we’re going to fix this week, and we’re going to have a good VOL season,” he said.

Enochs looking to make some noise in CCAL

Enochs (2-3) appeared energized by having Staggs under center for the first time this season.

The junior became eligible after sitting out the Sac-Joaquin Section transfer period after joining the Eagles from Downey High.

Staggs finished with 161 yards passing and two touchdown passes Friday night.

And despite throwing two interceptions, his ability to elude Oakdale’s pass rush and throw on the run appeared to add a dimension to Enochs’ offense.

“Johnny did great,” Traub said. “He’s learning our system, so he’s trying to figure some things out. ... He had some great throws, great passes, great reads, and he made good decisions.”

Enochs opens Central California Athletic League play next Friday against 1-4 Modesto.

And after Friday’s effort against Oakdale, Traub thinks his team is ready to take on the CCAL’s best.

“We showed tonight we can hang with the toughest, so we’re going after it in league,” Traub said. “I really think we’ve got a shot to battle for it. So we’re not backing down from anybody. We’re ready to go.”