photos by Charlie McDonald (charlie.mcdonald@surewestsports.com)
by Mike Finnerty (mike.finnerty@surewestsports.com)
For a season that started back on August 26 with a 55-14 win over Spanish Springs of Nevada, the Del Oro Golden Eagles (12-1) can cap off a terrific year with a win over the Oakdale Mustangs in Friday night's Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship game at Sacramento State University.
But will that be the end of the season for Del Oro? Not likely.
Should Del Oro prevail over Oakdale it will almost assure the Golden Eagles a spot in the Division II CIF State Bowl game that is set to be played once again at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on December 17.
Del Oro's only loss of the season was against Westlake Village of Southern California back on September 3. Westlake is a team that has been ranked No. 1 in the State, and a team that needed a field goal in overtime to defeat the Golden Eagles, 30-27. That, and being the Sierra Foothill League champs, will be the two main arguments for Del Oro.
A State Bowl appearance would not only reward Del Oro for a season of success, but it would honor for a program that has been one of the best in the section for over three decades.
Grant, Rocklin, and Folsom have all made appearances in a State Bowl game in the past three years, with Grant and Folsom coming away victorious, and Rocklin losing on a late field. Impressive performances by all three teams leads many to believe that this is now Del Oro's turn on the big stage.
Those on the Golden Eagles squad know better than to look past a very tough Mustangs team that lost to Del Oro, 21-0, in last year's Division III section championship, and they will be looking for revenge.
"We're going one game at a time, so however it goes down Friday night, then we can talk about what's to come next," said Del Oro senior quarterback Bobby Heatherington.
"It's (State Bowl) in the back of our minds, but we are trying to stay focused on the game ahead of us," said Golden Eagles linebacker, Alex Bertrando.
Head coach Casey Taylor, who has won a pair of section titles while at the helm for Del Oro and he believes that his team has earned a State Bowl bid should they beat Oakdale.
"When you start the year out it's (State Bowl) where you want to be, and I know we're really close, but if you don't win Friday it doesn't matter. We're really focused on that and we'll deal with it on Saturday. We do feel we've had a great season and we've been ranked real high, and we feel that if we do win on Friday that we are a team that should be going down there. We've put together a great season, played great non league (teams), won a great league, played well in the playoffs, and if we win Friday we should represent Northern California in a State Bowl," said Taylor.
TOTAL SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Del Oro 7, Oakdale 2
DEL ORO v. OAKDALE
Offenses:
Oakdale enters tonight's game with a record of 13-0, and they are led by 22-year head coach Trent Merzon, a Mustang alum, like most of the coaching staff for Oakdale.
The Mustangs run the Wing T offense which averages 48 points per game thanks to the play of running backs Marcus Hernandez (senior) and Marcus Northcutt (junior), as well as quarterback Spencer Thomas (junior).
For Del Oro's offense, which also scores over 40 points per game, it all starts with the notorious ground attack of "Thunder & Lightning", the tandem of junior Brandon Monroe and senior Nick O'Sullivan.
Monroe, the "lighting" of the pair, rushed for 1,469 yards and 20 touchdowns with a mixture of speed and power. O'Sullivan was pure, straight ahead "thunder" in all of his 1,208 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Quarterback Bobby Heatherington was not not only efficient, but productive passing for 2,083 yards to go with 22 touchdown passes against only five interceptions. Heatherington and the running game were made better by an offensive line that anchored by Zack Heath, Kevin Love, and Logan Lamb.
Conclusion: Del Oro's senior leadership at key positions, and the ability to beat their opponent with either the run or the pass makes the Golden Eagles a double threat.
Advantage: Del Oro
Defenses:
As good as the offense has been for Oakdale, the defense is it's equal holding opponents to an average of just 14 points. Led by junior linebackers Bastian Jimenez and CJ Pincinic, as well as Hernandez, it's a defense that will need to prove it can stop the Del Oro rushing game.
The problem facing the Mustangs is that they haven't faced a team as good as Del Oro since their section championship meeting a year ago.
In three playoff games this year, the Del Oro defense has allowed a total of 10 points, and one touchdown, and it's a group that is heavy on experience.
Linebackers Alex Bertrando (Nevada commit), Tanner Huber (7 tackles/game, 6 sacks), Alex Mason, and O'Sullivan are fast and physical and are all seniors. Defensive backs Blake Covey (4 tackles/game, 3 int.), Russell Smith, and Austin Solando (4 int.) are seniors as well. Monroe is a key factor as a defensive back, and fellow junior Dalton Hudec leads the team in sacks with eight.
Conclusion: Last year Del Oro delivered a shutout against Oakdale, but this year's Del Oro team has far too much experience and talent.
Advantage: Del Oro
Coaching:
Merzon and Taylor are both long time head coaches who have both have won section championships, both will not be intimidated by the surroundings, and they are well respected.
Advantage: Draw
Prediction:
Del Oro 32, Oakdale 17