- After starting 0-2, Downey gets first win over an undefeated Bears team.
- Bears lose their first regular season game since 2024.
- Downey Senior Owen Sacuskie has 5 touchdown receptions after three games.
Merced High entered Friday night’s football game undefeated at 2-0, while Downey came into the matchup looking for its first win of the season at 0-2. This game also marked Merced’s first home game of the season, giving the Bears an opportunity to continue their undefeated start in front of their home crowd.
Downey wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter. On the opening kickoff, Downey’s Brooklyn Gibson returned the ball 100 yards for a touchdown, putting the Knights ahead 6-0 after a failed 2 point conversion. Merced answered with a 20-yard field goal from Jomei Montez to make it 6-3. Downey continued to move the ball, eventually extending its lead when Elias Haynes scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Another missed conversion point left the score at 12-3 heading into the second quarter.
Downey’s passing game began to take over in the second quarter. Julian Masaniai connected with Owen Sacuskie for a 65-yard touchdown, followed by successful extra points to extend the lead. Masaniai then found Isaiah Castillo for a 42-yard touchdown as Downey continued to build its advantage. Merced answered when Christian Antonio Jackson caught a 20-yard touchdown pass, bringing the Bears to within 24 points at 34-10. Merced’s defense then came up with a major play of its own when Anthony Ward intercepted a Downey pass and returned it for a touchdown. With Jomei Montes adding the field goal, Merced had cut the score to 34-17 heading into halftime.
Merced came out of halftime ready to cut into the deficit. Anthony Tacheira scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown, cutting Downey’s lead to 34-24. The Knights answered when Masaniai connected with Sacuskie again, this time on a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Downey then added another rushing touchdown from Elias Haynes, who finished the night with three rushing touchdowns. After the score, the Knights converted a two-point attempt, pushing their lead to 48-24. Merced continued to move the ball late in the quarter, but the Bears could not finish the drive before the quarter ended.
The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth scoring battle. Dominick Duran opened the quarter with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Charles Polk, bringing Merced within 17 points at 48-31. The Knights then found the end zone again with a pass, making the score 54-31. Merced responded with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Derek Guiaro, bringing the Bears within 16 points at 54-38. Downey answered with another passing touchdown to Brooklyn Gibson, who ran the ball into the end zone to make it 60-38. Merced continued fighting until the final minutes when Duran connected with Israel Rodas for a 40-yard touchdown, but Downey held on for the 60-44 victory.
After the game, Downey wide receiver Owen Sacuski explained how the win helped get the team back on track. “It’s a good start to the season, because we started off 0-2, so it was a good bounce-back win,” Sacuskie said. Despite his three touchdowns and 185 receiving yards, Sacuskie gave credit to the players around him, saying, “I just didn’t do anything special. It was just my quarterbacks and my O-line blocked for me.” He also shared one thing that people may underestimate about their program. “They definitely underestimate our players and they don’t think we got guys this year, but we got guys coming back,” Sacuskie said. With Downey now having its first win of the season, Sacuskie said the team’s goal is “to go on a playoff run.”
The loss moved Merced to 2-1 on the season, while Downey improved to 1-2 after earning their first win of the year. Downey will look to build on the victory when the Knights return home to take on the Grant Pacers, while Merced will travel to face the Madera Coyotes in their next matchup.
