Week 4 high school football in Merced County includes bye weeks for seven Merced County teams. After one month into the season, teams are starting to separate themselves, and league is just around the corner. So, why not explore that theme further by examining the teams worth a buy, the teams trying to get by, and the teams that could use a bye.
BUY NOW:
Buhach Colony 26, Ceres 9: The Thunder do it again! The team that many counted out before the season started has now won two in a row and looked awfully competitive in week 4. Buhach scored the most points they’ve scored in a game since October 18th of last year. They’ve also played competent defense the past two weeks, holding both opponents to under 14 points. Next week, Buhach is on the road taking on 0-4 Lodi. The matchup looks interesting.
Hilmar 52, Atwater 28: After a disappointing performance against a difficult Palma team in week 3, The Yellowjackets wanted to show their town who they really were. In front of a home crowd, against a top tier Atwater opponent, they got their chance, and they delivered. The ground game for Hilmar showed up in a big way. Hilmar had two 100-yard rushers, but also had three fumbles, the one flaw in an otherwise stellar victory. In any case, after dominating the high-flying Falcons, Hilmar looks like the second-best team in Merced County.
Getting By:
Liberty 42, Los Banos 33: The Tigers fell to 1-3 after losing a close matchup to Liberty high. The Tigers looked explosive at times, and certainly have the athletes to contend, but they couldn’t keep up with the Hawks, who improved to a perfect 4-0 to start the season. The Tigers will have a chance to recalibrate next week before league play begins when they travel to take on 1-3 Gregori.
Shafter 49, Dos Palos 13: The Broncos are now 2-2 after dropping a tough game against a vicious Shafter opponent. Shafter shut out Dos Palos in the second half and improved to 3-0 on the season. The Dos Palos Broncos have lost their last two games. Next week, they return home to take on 3-1 Kerman.
Yosemite 34, Gustine 14: Gustine continued their up-and-down ways in week 4 losing in conclusive fashion to Yosemite. Gustine, now 2-2, seems to look efficient and powerful in some games, but in other games, they appear outmatched and ineffective. Next week, they will begin league play against Mariposa County (3-0).
Could use a Bye:
Pitman 28, Golden Valley 19: O-4 Golden Valley may be the biggest conundrum in Merced. They are tough, athletic, strong, and can strike downfield. However, when it matters most, they really struggle. Personal fouls and reckless penalties routinely squash offensive drives and give their opponents second chances. In this game, Pitman converted two 4th down touchdowns. The Cougars could use a bye week to help them reset. However, they won’t get one until after they travel to Tracy next week to take on 2-1 Kimball High.
Gilroy 39, Delhi 17: The Hawks were a bit outmatched in this one. Gilroy’s offense put forth a dynamic display against the Hawks. Their quarterback threw for three touchdowns, and their running back ran for over 100 yards. Delhi, meanwhile, struggled to find consistency. Their offense has struggled to score points all season. If they do not play lights out defense, it’s tough for them to win. They won’t have much time to regroup; next week, they begin league play by traveling to Le grand.
Hilmar 52, Atwater 28: Atwater is now 2-2 after dropping a tough road game to Hilmar. The Falcons are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. They are a serious contender for the CCC this year, but they have had a series of difficult games that seem to be taking an emotional toll on them. It looks as if the hype, the expectations, and the competition is starting to wear on them a little bit. They have one more opponent left until their bye week, but that opponent is 3-1 Pitman. Atwater’s nonleague opponents are now a combined 13-7. What a tough schedule! But, you know what they say? Pressure makes diamonds.
That wraps up another week of high school football in Merced County. Next week’s kickoffs feature the start of league play for the following teams: Stone Ridge, Delhi, Gustine, Pacheco, Livingston, Hilmar, and Le Grand.
