Sports

Preview: Rio Linda Knights host Oakdale Mustangs in DIV Football Playoffs

Tonight, the Sac-Joaquin Section football Playoffs resume after a one-week hiatus due to smoke from the devastating Camp Fire in Butte County.

The top seeded Rio Linda Knights (9-2) will face the #5 Oakdale Mustangs (9-3) tonight at 7pm in the Sac-Joaquin Section DIV Semi-finals. The winner will move on to face either #3 Casa Roble or #2 Vanden for the section Championship.

Of course we know that Rio Linda is stacked with talent, and topping that roster is RB Cameron Skattebo, who has racked up 2,445 yards (4th in the State) and 30 TDs over the past eleven games, and was honored as the 2018 Foothill Valley League MVP. 

Cameron Skattebo outruns the Pacheco Defence.

The Knights also have offensive weapons in All-League QB Tyson Ybarra, and leading receiver Kyle Deloney-Spencer.

Can Oakdale slow down Skattebo?
Central Catholic rushed for 381 yards against Oakdale in the final game of their regular season. Skattebo had 293 rushing yards and five touchdowns two weeks ago against Pacheco. Skattebo has only one game this year with under 100 rushing yards. The question is not whether the Mustangs can stop Skattebo but can they slow him down?

The Oakdale Mustangs

Oakdale is looking for its 15th section-title appearance and its fourth section title since 2012. Despite their regular season finale 54-14 blowout loss vs. Central Catholic, and losing at home for the first time in five years, They aren’t a team to be dismissed. This season, they have regularly put up point totals in the 50-60 range.

It will be a slippery, wet, ground and pound kinda game, with two excellent running offenses struggling to gain the upper hand.

My prediction: Rio Linda 38 – Oakdale 35.

Tonight’s game will be played at Rio Linda High school at 7pm. 

Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students/seniors and can be purchased at the gate or pre-purchased online at https://gofan.co/app/events/42746

The game will be broadcast LIVE at https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/cifsjs/gam8dffcdeb8d?maxpreps=desktop_teamschedule
(subscription required)