Bears pick off Cougars, extend Mayor’s Cup reign to 21 years

The Merced defense came up with big play after big play, forcing Golden Valley into five turnovers as the Bears rolled to a 55-7 victory at Veterans Stadium in the Battle for the Mayor’s Cup. The Merced players hoisted the Mayor’s Cup for the 21st consecutive year.

 

“It feels great,” said Merced High junior Chrisitan Jackson, who started the scoring barrage with a 20-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. “I’m not going to lie, it feels wonderful. Twenty-one years, it feels like a milestone. I’ve been a part of it for two years and I want to make it three next year.”

 

Anthony Tachiera, Jake Hinman, Isaiah Morales and Anthony Ward all came up with interceptions for the Merced defense. The Bears were able to turn almost every turnover into points.

 

Hinman intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned the ball to the Golden Valley 8-yard line. On the next play, Bears quarterback Raul Diaz Moreno connected with Charles Polk on an 8-yard touchdown pass to give Merced (5-2 overall, 2-0 Central California Conference) a 13-0 lead with 6:26 left in the first quarter.

 

“Our defense is great,” said Diaz Moreno, who threw three touchdowns and added a 60-yard scoring run. “They just followed their game plan, and as soon as we got the ball back, we had that chemistry, so everything was clicking.”

 

Golden Valley put its only scoring drive together midway through the first half. Cougars quarterback capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jaren Bell that cut the lead to 13-7. 

 

The Cougars defense then came up with a stop on Merced’s next possession and Golden Valley had a chance to drive for the lead, but Anthony Tachiera intercepted a Richards pass to give the ball back to the Bears at the Cougars’ 39-yard line.

 

Two plays later, Diaz Moreno connected with receiver Israel Rodas on a 25-yard touchdown pass to extend the Merced lead to 20-7 with 6:08 left in the second quarter. 

 

A bad snap on a punt attempt turned the ball over on downs at Golden Valley’s 7-yard line on the Cougars’ next possession. Tachiera helped the Bears capitalize with a 5-yard touchdown run to extend the Merced lead to 27-7 at the half.

 

“It was very good complimentary football tonight for us,” said Bears head coach Rob Scheidt. “I love the way we tackled and swarmed to the ball. We kind of refined some things at halftime, and that really worked. (Golden Valley) has some really talented players and we know that. It's been a tough week for us. We just have been going through some stuff, and for our guys to play that well. It was really good to see.”

 

It was all Bears in the second half as Diaz Moreno raced 60 yards for a touchdown. Tachiera added a second touchdown run on a 27-yard sprint to the end zone. Dougie Andrews broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run and Brody Dabney added a 69-yard scoring run late.

 

“I feel like it was just those two losses that set us back, and then we just had to grind and work, and that work is showing on Friday night,” Jackson said.

 

The Bears will host Los Banos next week. Golden Valley (3-4, 1-1 CCC) will travel to Buhach Colony.

Atwater 36, Buhach Colony 8 – The Falcons regained possession of the Bloss Bowl Trophy with an empathic win as they jumped out to a 29-0 lead by halftime. Charlie Whitby started the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Curti. Whitby later added a 62-yard touchdown reception.

 

Joseph Munoz extended the Falcons’ lead to 15-0 with a 4-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Curtis then connected with Hudson Pimentel for a 6-yard touchdown pass and Pimentel added a 79-yard touchdown to give Atwater the 29-0 lead at the half.

 

The Falcons improved to 2-5 on the season and more importantly 2-0 in the CCC.

 

Los Banos 38, El Capitan 15 – The Gauchos led early 7-6 after the first quarter, but the Tigers outscored El Capitan 19-0 in the second and third quarters to open up a 25-7 lead. Los Banos improved to 1-1 in CCC play and will travel to Merced next week.

 

Ceres 35, Livingston 28 – The Wolves came out strong in the first half and built a 21-7 at the half. However, four third-quarter turnovers turned the tide as the Bulldogs outscored Livingston 28-7 in the second half to pick up the victory. Jeffrey Meneses scored two rushing touchdowns for the Wolves. Sabir Saini and Nast Baptista added touchdown runs.

 

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