Round three: Merced, Atwater set for flag football playoff showdown under the lights.
The stage is set for another epic clash as the Merced High girls flag football team will host Atwater in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II semifinals on Wednesday night at Cathie Hostetler Stadium. The winner advances to the section championship game on Saturday at Cosumnes River College.
“It’s going to be electric, hopefully it will look like the Santa Fe Bowls of 1989 and 1990 — our Falcons are focused, confident, and ready to leave it all on the field,” said Atwater co-head coach Nathan Ramirez, whose No. 5 Falcons throttled No. 13 Rocklin 54-12 in Monday night’s quarterfinal game.
Top-seeded Merced was just as excited for the matchup after disposing of No. 8 Whitney 34-19 in its second-round game on Tuesday. “I’m happy we get to play Atwater a third time,” said Bears junior receiver Averie Steverson. Kickoff for the Merced-Atwater showdown is scheduled for 6 p.m.
El Capitan came close to having a third MUHSD team reach the semifinals, but the No. 6 Gauchos (20-5) lost to No. 3 Ponderosa 26-20 in overtime.
Merced 34, Whitney 19 – The Bears (23-4) outscored the Wildcats 20 to 0 in the second quarter. The 20-0 run was sparked by two second-quarter interceptions by Alyssa Oseguera and Samantha Barragan. The Merced offense turned both interceptions into touchdown as quarterback Antonia Lejarde connected with Amiya Brown on a 1-yard touchdown pass and then found Steverson for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 2 seconds left in the half.
Steverson’s touchdown catch was a highlight reel type of play where she went up high over a Whitney defensive back to grab the ball. The defensive back then crashed into Steverson, dislodging the ball from her hands. Steverson was still able to maintain her concentration and snag the ball a second time before it hit the ground for the touchdown.
“I did lose it,” Steverson said. “My coaches always told me, just catch it at the highest point. That's what I tried to do. I lost it and they always tell if you're fumbling, just stick with it and I stuck with it.”
Steverson’s touchdown ended a flurry of three touchdowns in the final 5:32 of the first half with the help of the turnovers. “We definitely locked in defense and offense,” Oseguera said. “The defense did their job and then our offense did what they needed to do and put some scores on the board. We just executed, everybody did their part.”
Lejarde threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns and also added 45 yards on the ground. Steverson finished with 130 yards receiving. Amachi Turner came up with two big fourth-down catches and scored two touchdowns.
“Our defense really stepped up with those interceptions, which really put the ball in our hands, and were able to score on both of those possessions before the half,” said Merced head coach Vic Nazario. “Those plays changed the game and opened it up for us.”
Atwater 54, Rocklin 12 – The Falcons have now scored 99 points in their two playoff wins. Quarterback Madi Hiler completed 21 of 33 passes for six touchdowns. She also ran for 119 yards. Saige Harcksen caught eight passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns and Riley Leonardo added seven catches for 63 yards and two scores. “Our girls are locked in and playing their best football when it matters most,” Ramirez said.
Payton Caudillo added two touchdown catches and Natalia Melgoza caught a 30-yard touchdown for the Falcons (18-5). Defensively, Atwater was led by Olivia Bell, who pulled eight flags to go along with one sack. Mckel Narin added seven flag pulls and one interception.
The Falcons were outscored by Merced in the second halves in the previous two games with the Bears winning 27-6 and 20-19, which resulted in both teams sharing the CCC championship.
“The key to success will be playing all four quarters,” Ramirez said. “We know Merced will be ready, but so are we. They say it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season so we’re preaching that.”
Ponderosa 26, El Capitan 20 OT – It was a heartbreaking loss for the Gauchos, who were leading for almost the entire game. The Bruins forced overtime with a touchdown in the final minute of regulation.
El Capitan built a 20-13 lead at the half, but lost quarterback Aaliyah Simonian to a knee injury in the third quarter and the senior didn’t return. The Gauchos didn’t score after Simonian left the game. Ponderosa will host No. 15 Vista Del Lago in the semifinal game on Wednesday with the winner facing the winner of Merced-Atwater in the section final on Saturday.
Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached Sjansen@muhsd.org.