As Scheidt enters 30th season at Merced, Bears aim for a run at a third consecutive CCC championship
The Central California Conference football championship always seems to go through Merced High. The Bears have won two titles in a row and six of the last 11 CCC championships – not including the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic. Despite a bunch of new faces in starting roles, the Bears are once again expected to contend for another championship.
“Really the pride and tradition of our program is based on excellence,” said Merced head coach Rob Scheidt. “ It doesn't always mean you win every game, but I think there's a product that we want to put on the field. That goes way beyond even my tenure, so that tradition has been carried out. I've got a great group of coaches, a great support system, a great alumni base, a great administration. I even feel the district is supportive of what we have as a program, and all those things kind of come together to set up the right environment for people to be successful.”
A big reason for the Bears success has been Scheidt, who enters his 30th season at MHS. The longtime coach celebrated his 200th win in Merced’s 41-35 playoff win over Rio Americano last season. “Most of the time people would get sick of me,” Scheidt said. “I'm glad they haven't. I'm glad people are still excited to send their kids to Merced High to play football for me. It’s 30 years at Merced High and 34 years in education for me and I still feel like it can do it. Those are all blessings that are beyond me.”
The opportunity to play for Scheidt is a big reason quarterback Vicente Cortez says he wanted to play for the Bears. Cortez was called up as sophomore at the end of the 2023 season and spent his junior year backing up three-year starter Quintelle Dupree. Cortez could have taken the popular route many kids take today and transfer to another school to play sooner. Instead he waited his turn and practiced hard every day.
“I wanted to be a competitor,” Cortez said. “ I know being a backup is tough. I probably could have started anywhere else. But I wanted to play for coach Scheidt. He runs the spread offense and eventually I think that’s going to help me get recruited as well. I treated practice every day like it was a game and I was ready to play in case I got the call.”
Cortez did get the call when Dupree got injured early against El Capitan last year. Cortez came in and played well, leading the Bears to a 54-32 victory. Cortez came in and showed what he could do with his arm and his legs, leading the offense up and down the field.
“I think the beauty in high school football is that's how it's supposed to be,” Scheidt said. “I think we're being misled by NIL and the transfer portal in college football, and even the NFL with free agency and trying to get more money and all that stuff. At the heart of it is, you go to school, you attend that school, and then you compete and try to be the best person you can. If you're not the starter, then you continue to make that team better, and he's done that. He's always made us better as a team, as a school, as a program, and I'm just excited that he gets to take every snap this year.”
Cortez will be protected by two returning all-CCC offensive linemen in Kaleb Caudillo and Koy Wicker, who are the only two returning starters on offense. The Bears will be turning to a whole new cast of skill players outside of running back Cammarri Jackson, who rushed for 517 yards and 12 touchdowns as the No. 2 back behind starter Adarius Morales-Saeturn last year. The Bears will replace their top four receivers from last year with three graduating and one transfer. Hayden Czirban will see his contributions grow on offense after playing mostly defense last year before a hamstring injury sidelined him for most of the second half of the season. Czirban gives Cortez a 6-foot-4 target at receiver or tight end.
“I always want to be in the game, so last year was tough getting hurt,” Czirban said. “I always want to be there for my teammates. I'm excited to show everyone what I can do on both sides of the ball. It makes me more excited than ever for this season.”
The Bears defense will be anchored by a strong defensive line that includes Czirban, Jackson and Zion Robertson. The linebackers will be led by Vincent Almanza and Tyson Espinoza, who transferred from El Capitan.
The goal for the Bears is to keep the championship run going with a third CCC title in a row. “It's like having a target on our back,” Cortez said. “Everybody's trying to come through Merced. So we just got to hold our ground and just play our best game to defend that CCC championship.”
2025 Schedule
Aug. 22 vs Patterson
Aug. 29 vs Gregori
Sept. 5 at Downey
Sept. 19 vs Madera
Sept. 25 at Enochs
Oct. 3 vs Golden Valley
Oct. 10 at Los Banos
Oct. 17 at El Capitan
Oct. 24 vs Atwater
Oct. 31 at Buhach Colony
Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org. The communications department will be publishing previews on each MUHSD football team as we close in on the start of the season.