It wasn’t raining. It was a mist, developing into a drizzle, and evaporating back into a mist, but it put enough moisture on the ball and on the turf to make a difference, and the Knights grabbed Oakdale turnovers on key plays to secure the win.
Oakdale’s Max Moore rumbled into the end zone from a yard out to grab the early lead for Oakdale wth 7:51 left in the first quarter.
On the following onside kickoff, the moisture came into play and the Knights coughed up the ball, leading to Oakdale’s Zeke Saffar scoring from 11 yards out. Oakdale held the 14 point early lead with 4:34 left to play in the first quarter.
The Knights held onto the next kickoff, and QB Tyson Ybarra found the end zone from 44 yards out on a quarterback keeper. 14-7 3:05 left in the first.
Cameron Skattebo scored with a 16 yard run to tie the game at 14 with 7:03 left to play in the half.
The half ended in a 14-14 tie.
Oakdale’s Zeke Saffar scored on a 37 yard run, but the PAT was missed. The Mustangs held a 20-14 advantage midway through the third quarter.
On a Fourth and three at the 48 yard line, with 4:43 left in the third quarter, the Knights handed the ball to Cameron Skattebo who took it to the house from 48 yards out to give him his second touchdown of the game, and give the Knights their first lead of the night, 21-20.
With 1:12 left in the third quarter, Max Moore scored again for Oakdale, snatching back the lead on a 5 yard rush. Caleb Kuppens added the 2 point conversion, bringing the score to 28-21 Mustangs.
Late in the third quarter, Skattebo found a hole in the Oakdale line on a blitz and tackled Zeke Saffar in the backfield, who fumbled the ball. A quick thinking Johnny Serrano picked up the ball and ran for a 28 yard touchdown to tie the game at 28.
The 4th quarter went scoreless until Rio Linda’s Andres Paez Ponce kicked a field goal with 44 seconds remaining on the game clock.
Oakdale had a shot at the end zone late, but a solid goal line stand by the Knights defense ended the game, 31-28.
Cameron Skattebo ended the game with 161 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tyson Ybarra had 12 carries fo 116 yards and 1 touchdown, and also recovered an Oakdale fumble in the endzone for a touchback.
Rio Linda advances to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV title game against the Casa Roble Rams. This game will take place on Saturday, December 1st at 2pm, at Whitney High School in Rocklin.
