Former University of Nebraska coaching great Tom Osborn once said, “If you can run the ball when everyone knows you’re going to run the ball, there’s not much they can do about it.” The Merced High football team has proved Osborn right this season. The Bears have leaned on their big offensive line, trio of talented running backs and a dual-threat quarterback to pave their way to an undefeated season.

 

Merced (8-0 overall, 3-0 Central California Conference) appears to be marching to a third consecutive conference championship behind a rushing attack that is averaging 6.4 yards per carry as a team and 230 yards on the ground per game. Next up for the Bears is Santa Fe Bowl 45 on Friday night against Atwater at Cathie Hostetler Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

 

Falcons head coach Seneca Ybarra says slowing down the Bears rushing attack will be a tall order. “They’ve got some big boys up there,” Ybarra said. “I’m watching film right now and they’re pushing Patterson around.They've been really physical at the point of attack. It's always something they've been able to lean on and having that many talented backs, there's really not much you can do.”

 

The Merced offensive line is led by bookend three-year starters at tackle in Koy Wicker (6-foot-2, 312 pounds) and Kaleb Caudillo (6-5, 250). The Bears also have Joseph Hernandez (5-11, 302) and Tristan McDonald (6-1, 230) as second-year players on the O-line. “I think collectively those guys have kind of made things really easy for us,” said Merced head coach Rob Scheidt. “O-line play is not complicated, but I think there is an art to how you teach it, and coach (Artie) Mattes has done a great job. He knows our scheme really well and how I think and if there's any intricacies that need to be taught, it's taught efficiently and even to the point where we can make endgame adjustments to make sure that we're blocking things correctly.”

 

It also helps when you have a trio of running backs like Cammarri Jackson, Dougie Andrews and Anthony Tachiera, who have combined for 1,365 yards and 24 touchdowns. Having a deep backfield allows Scheidt to use his running back interchangeably so if Jackson needs a break after playing defense, Andrews or Tachiera can fill in. Quarterback Vincente Cortez (365 rushing yards and eight touchdowns) can also run which gives defenses another weapon to think about. Cortez has also passed for 1,249 yards and 14 touchdowns so defenses can’t just stack the box against the run.

 

“We've chewed clock in critical games where teams don't get the ball back, like literally they don't get the ball back,” Scheidt said. “Having a seven, eight-minute drive to win the game is something that is really, really fun to have as a coach, because we're not afraid to get into third-and-short, or  fourth-and-short with the idea that we can get it and keep the clock running.”

 

Merced’s running back committee also works because the three running backs are unselfish and root each other on. They are often the first teammate to greet each other when their backmate scores a touchdown. All three have been called upon with the game on the line. “I think there's a natural desire to be the guy and want to get the ball, and we want to encourage that,” Scheidt said. “But at the same time, when you're not the guy making the big play or scoring the touchdown or being called to carry the ball during a critical time of the game, then you have to be a great teammate and support the guy that's getting that done.”

 

A Merced win on Friday would clinch at least a share of the CCC championship for Merced and help the Bears secure a first-round home playoff game. Atwater and Buhach Colony both will have losses to Golden Valley turn into forfeit victories after the school self-reported to the Sac-Joaquin Section this week that an ineligible player participated in those games. The Falcons will now be 5-3 and 2-1 in the CCC headed into the Santa Fe Bowl. Buhach Colony will now be 4-4 overall and 2-1 in the CCC.

 

Merced holds a 39-15 advantage in the Santa Fe Bowl rivalry against Atwater.

 

Friday’s schedule for MUHSD schools:

Atwater at Merced

El Capitan at Buhach Colony

Los Banos at Golden Valley

Johansen at Livingston

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.