Week 3 of high school football in Merced County was a week of highs and lows for teams across the land. Let’s see who’s up and who’s not after three weeks of play:
The Highs
Stone Ridge 34, Chowchilla 22: No one appears to have an answer for Stone Ridge’s offense, so far, this season. After three games played, this was their lowest scoring affair. For those that think they can’t keep this up. You’re right, next week is their bye week. But after that, they go to Denair (2-1) for their first league game of the season.
Merced 41, Downey 39: Just three games into the season, Merced High (3-0) has demonstrated a resiliency typical of champions. They defeated a very difficult Patterson team in overtime, tore apart an athletic Gregori group, and in week 3, they held off a talented Downey squad from rallying at home. They’ll get a chance to rest during week 4 before heavyweight Madara comes to town. Things won’t get any easier for the Bears, but that’s the way they like it. Welcome to Bear Country.
Buhach 18, Enoch 13: It’s no big secret that Buhach (1-2) has struggled recently to win games, but all that talk can rest for now because this week they’re winners. Instead, we can talk about a team that made a commitment, saw it through, and accomplished a goal, learning a little more than just football in the process. Not bad, Thunder. Are you ready for the next one?
Atwater 27, Gregori 14: Atwater (2-1) has had quite an emotional two weeks. There was the week 1 shootout Victory in Vacaville, followed by a week 2 overtime loss at home. This week, they seemed to settle in. Gregori gave them an athletic challenge, but Atwater’s grit proved too strong in the end as they pulled away from Gregori over 4 quarters. Next week: Another showdown. This time in Hilmar (2-1).
The Lows
Elk Grove 55, Golden Valley 19: Golden Valley (0-3) has a talented roster. They have two capable quarterbacks, a dynamic runner, and a stout defense. However, through three games, they have not been able to play four quarters of consistent football. On some possessions, they look excellent. Other times, penalties and miscues disrupt their flow. As a result, they are 0-3. Then again, maybe they’re just ironing out the kinks. Isn’t that what nonleague games are all about? Next week, they come back home to face Pitman (2-1).
Half Moon Bay 49, Pacheco 21: Pacheco is 0-3 to start the season after losing convincingly to Half Moon Bay. Pacheco has struggled, offensively, to start the season. Through their first 3 games, they’ve been outscored 92-41. Next week should be another difficult matchup when typically tough Lathrop (2-1) comes to town.
Stevenson 49, Livingston 6: Since losing on the final drive against Le Grand in week 1, Livingston (0-3) has struggled to score many points. Their dominant running attack has failed to gain much traction against two high quality opponents. Next week, during their bye, they’ll have time to regroup and reset before traveling to Ceres (1-1) in week 5.
High-Lows
Palma 48, Hilmar 20: After starting the season 2-0, Hilmar traveled to Salinas and took on a physical Palma team that ran for 5 touchdowns and over 300 yards. Hilmar will need to regroup quickly because in week 4 one of the toughest teams in the county, Atwater, is coming for a visit. When these two teams play, it is always close. This time, expect no different.
Sacred Heart Prep 35, El Capitan 27: The Gauchos have a bad habit of falling behind in the first quarter. This time, it finally caught up with them. Even though the Gauchos fell behind 14-0, the score was tied, 21-21, by halftime. However, Sacred Heart’s Fly Offense would not be denied when it mattered most. Sacred Heart took the lead in the second half and grinded out an 8-point victory. Next week, El Capitan (2-1) is on a bye.
Liberty 35, Dos Palos 26: To start the season, Dos Palos (2-1) has looked strong and consistent. However, in week 3 they faced a Liberty opponent that was also 2-0, and to beat them, they would need an even stronger performance. It was not to be for Dos Palos. The Broncos played a competitive match, but in the end Liberty was too much.
Madera South 24, Delhi 13: Delhi (1-2) has been up and down to start the season. After being defeated by a wide margin against Bret Harte, they bounced back in week 2 for their first win of the season. In Week 3, however, they traveled to Madera where they were defeated by Madera South. Maybe the home crowd energy can reignite their spark in week 4 when they host a currently winless Gilroy opponent.
Low-Highs
Los Banos 31, Lodi 10: Los Banos (1-2) lost a tough rivalry game against Dos Palos in week 1. Then, they played a physical Hilmar team that beat them in week 2. The Tigers needed to get in the win column, and this week, they did. They played their best football of the season on both sides of the ball. They scored more points in this game than in any other game all season. Their defense held Lodi to the fewest amount of points scored in a game against them all season. In week 4, they head out on the road to face Liberty (3-0).
Le Grand 33, Orestimba 15: Le Grand (2-1) came back home to host the Warriors after losing a tough one, in week 2, to a brutal opponent. The loss may have had them rethinking their game plan, but there’s nothing like a convincing home win against a former league opponent to help put things back in perspective.
Gustine 33, Riverbank 13: After getting shut out to start the season at Orestimba, Gustine (2-1) has now put up 30+ points in back-to-back games, winning each of them, and becoming 2-1 in the process. They appear to have found their stride as they go to Oakhurst in week 4 to take on Yosemite.
Well, that does it for week 3 of football in Merced County. The list of undefeated teams is now down to just two: Merced and Stone Ridge. Meanwhile, those looking for their first win of the season in week 4 include Golden Valley and Pacheco. Livingston will have to wait until week 5.
