Week 8 of the football season showed us the highs and lows of what teams have to offer. The reason we say this is because nearly every game involving a Merced County team was decided by multiple touchdowns. The only game that was close (within one score) was Livingston vs Ceres (35-28). However, that means that the rankings are really starting to come together. So, let’s have a look at how this week shapes up:
14. Delhi Hawks 0-7 overall, 0-4 Southern league: The Hawks are at the bottom for the second straight week after dropping a home game to Modesto Christian 20-0. The Hawks will probably remain in last until they can get at least one win this season.
13. Buhach Colony 0-7 overall, 0-2 CCC league (-1): Buhach Colony drops into 13th place after getting crushed in the Bloss Bowl to Atwater by a score of 38-6. All of a sudden Buhach looks to be in bad shape. They’ve been outscored by Merced and Atwater 99-6 over the last two weeks. This week, they host Golden Valley.
12. Livingston Wolves 0-7, 0-2 WAC league (+1): The Wolves move above Buhach because they are playing competitive football. The Wolves are averaging nearly 20 points a game while Buhach is only averaging 8.85 points per game. The Wolves have yet to be shut out in a game this year, proving their offensive competence. So, we gave the Wolves the edge, for now.
11. Gustine Reds 1-6 overall, 1-3 Southern league: The Reds remain in 11th place after dropping an away game to Waterford by a score of 37-20. The Reds risk falling in the ranking if one of the previously listed teams can win a game, but until they do, the Red remain here.
10. El Capitan Gauchos 1-6 overall, 0-2 CCC league: The Gauchos are still searching for their first league win of the season after falling to Los Banos 38-15. El Capitan has struggled with consistency this season. In some games, they look really sharp, and in other games, they look unprepared. So far, they are scoring an average of 20.5 points per game and giving up 37.4 points per game.
9. Pacheco Panthers 2-5 overall, 1-3 WAC league: The Panthers appear to be losing their stride as the season advances. The first month of the season, they were a respectable 2-2, but ever since the calendar switched to October, they have lost three straight. Two out of their next three opponents are currently below .500, so maybe the Panthers will finish strong.
8. Le Grand Bulldogs 3-4 overall, 2-2 Southern league: The Bulldogs appear to be a bit inconsistent. The Bulldogs were briefly above .500 when they were 3-2, but since then, they’ve dropped two in a row. About .500 is where we should expect this team. So, it’s no coincidence that when it comes to Merced County teams, they are similarly ranked middle of the pack.
7. Golden Valley Cougars 3-4 overall, 1-1 CCC league (-3): The Cougars have some of the best playmakers in the CCC, but stringing together four quarters of mistake-free football is not something they’ve kindly mastered. When they’re on, they’re on, but when they’re challenged, like they were last week against Merced, things can get ugly. That’s why they have dropped from 4th to 7th, but if they can finish the CCC strong, they should be able to crack inside the top 5.
6. Stone Ridge Christian Knights 5-2 overall, 3-1 Southern league: Stone Ridge Christian just defeated Le Grand 35-14, showing that they are among the top teams in the Southern League. However, some of the CCC teams that have been asleep are starting to wake up, and that means that a small school like Stone Ridge might be on the outside looking in at the top five teams.
5. Dos Palos Broncos 5-3 overall, 1-1 West Sierra league (-2): The Broncos were challenged last week by an undefeated Chowchilla team, but unfortunately, they didn’t exactly handle the challenge well. The Tribe roughed the Broncos up pretty good, 50-12, but that doesn’t’ mean the Broncos’ season is going downhill. Instead, it means they lost a few spots in the rankings. Next week, they should get back on track as they travel to Firebaugh.
4. Los Banos Tigers 4-3 overall, 1-1 CCC league (+1): Los Banos got back on track last week after defeating El Capitan 38-15. They’ve mostly hung around .500 all year, but with games on the schedule coming up against Merced, Buhach Colony, and Golden Valley, we’re going to find out if the Tigers are a contender in the CCC, or if they are content fighting for a bowl game.
3. Atwater Falcons 2-5 overall, 2-0 CCC league (+4): The biggest jump of the week goes to the Atwater Falcons for knocking off Buhach Colony in the Bloss Bowl in shutout fashion. However, it’s not just because of that win. Over the last two weeks, the Falcons have been playing their best ball of the year. They squeaked out a one-point win against a solid Tigers squad and followed that up with their best game of the season against their top rival. They are now 2-0 in the CCC with a trip to El Cap on the schedule. If they do what they’re supposed to do, we could be looking at a 3-0 Falcon team by next week.
2. Merced Bears 5-2 overall, 2-0 CCC league: No changes for the Bears this week after dismantling a solid Golden Valley squad 55-7. The Bears have erased all doubts about not being as sharp as previous teams. They look unstoppable in the CCC after shutting out Buhach 61-0 and demoralizing Golden Valley 55-7. However, if they make it through their next two matchups, and Atwater beats El Cap and GV, we may be looking at a Sante Fe Bowl for the CCC championship. But, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
1. Hilmar Yellowjackets 8-0 overall, 4-0 Trans Valley League: Hilmar impressed with a decisive 35-6 victory over Orestimba. As long as the Yellowjackets keep winning, they should remain in first. They are the only undefeated team in the county, and they play what’s likely the hardest schedule in the county. There is no league in the county more competitive than the Trans Valley League, and if the Yellowjackets master that, they must be number 1.
Some games to watch in week 9 include:
Stone Ridge Christian @ Mariposa County (Two 5-2 teams playing for 2nd in the Southern League.)
Beyer @ Livingston (Is this the week for Livingston?)
Ceres @ Pacheco (Panthers have dropped their last three.)
