Eagles Roll Over Wartburg 25-0
By Terry Futrell
The undefeated Oakdale Eagles rolled over visiting Wartburg Friday evening 25-0 on Hollis Eble Field. The Eagles, ranked 24th in the state in Class A by MaxPreps after the second week of play, are now 3-0 on the season, outscoring their three opponents 94-38.
The Eagles wasted no time in gaining an advantage after Wartburg received the opening kickoff. During Wartburg’s first series of downs, Bulldog quarterback Samuel McCarty completed an outlet pass to Gabe Redmon. As Redmon turned up field, Oakdale’s Aaron Dunlap planted his helmet against the ball, causing a fumble that Oakdale recovered on the Wartburg 28-yard line. The Eagles advanced to the 12-yardline, then Dunlap weaved his way through the Wartburg defensive line and ran to the end zone for Oakdale’s first score with only three and one-half minutes elapsed. Oakdale’s Gavin Menard kicked the extra point and the Eagles led 7-0.
Wartburg’s second series was essentially a mirror of the first, with the Eagles taking possession on the Wartburg 23-yard line. The Bulldog defense held, forcing Oakdale to try a field goal, which failed. Then began a defensive battle that lasted for most of the first half with neither team able to score.
With less than one minute remaining in the half, Wartburg advanced the ball to the Oakdale 20-yard line. In what turned out to be one of the great defensive plays of the game by the Eagles, Joseph Summers and Jacob Hoskins leaped high in the corner of the end zone to deflect a pass from McCarty to Austin Beasley, depriving the Bulldogs of a touchdown that would have evened the score. The half ended with Oakdale leading 7-0.
After several failed attempts to sustain drives by both teams, many hampered by multiple penalties, the Bulldog defense stopped an Oakdale scoring drive on the Wartburg 1-yard line. On the first play, Oakdale’s Eloy Vera tackled Beasley in the end zone for a safety, increasing Oakdale’s lead to 9-7 with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter.
Hunter Boyer returned the ensuing Wartburg free kick to the Wartburg 40-yard line. After several successful runs by Vera and Nehemiah Cooney, Vera fumbled the ball into the end zone as he was being tackled by Bulldog Taner Branstetter. The ball went out of bounds in the end zone, and Wartburg took possession at the 20-yard line. The third quarter ended with the score remaining 9-0.
Both Vera and Cooney had touchdowns nullified by penalties early in the fourth quarter. Finally, Oakdale punched the ball into the end zone for a score at 5:09 in the quarter. Menard kicked the extra point and the Eagles led 16-0. After a failed drive by Wartburg, Oakdale again took possession and Dunlap ran the ball in from 15 yards out for another Eagle touchdown. Menard kicked the extra point and the Eagles led 23-0 with 2:16 remaining.
Wartburg’s last attempt to move the ball failed when Oakdale’s Timmy Holder tackled Gabe Redmon for a significant loss at the 10-yard line. The Eagles then moved Wartburg backwards into the end zone and scored another safety, increasing their lead to 25-0 with 1:32 remaining. After receiving the free kick, Oakdale was able to run out the clock and claim the victory over their in-county rival Wartburg.
Oakdale moves on to face visiting Coalfield next Friday in a battle of unbeaten top-25 teams. Coalfield crushed Sunbright Friday evening by a score of 68-8. After the game, Oakdale Coach J.R. Voyles pointed out that there were “way too many penalties,” and assured his team that they would focus on “ball security and discipline” in preparation for the meeting with Coalfield.
