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Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Tough-luck Devils: Merced College hosts Los Medanos, clinging to slim title hope

Mark Kaanapu doesn't consider himself a patient man.

So while he knows the Merced College football team has taken some excellent strides in his first season as head coach, it's sometimes difficult for him to look past the fact that the team is 3-5.

The task becomes all the more difficult when you consider the way the Blue Devils have lost games this season.

Last week's 25-20 defeat to Golden Gate Conference-leader Laney was MC's third loss by seven points or less in its last four contests.

Even more painfully for Kaanapu, the loss was his ninth in the last two years to be decided on the final possession of the game, dating back to his final season at Menlo College.

The loss also left zero margin for error in the Blue Devils' GGC title hopes. MC needs wins against Los Medanos today at home and then at Modesto in the final week of the season.

After that, the Blue Devils need all kinds of help.

MC (1-2 GGC, 3-5) needs Modesto to beat Laney and Cabrillo to beat Chabot today. The Blue Devils would then need Chabot to beat Laney on the final day of the regular season. That would create a five-way title split of 3-2 teams.

The odds aren't in MC's favor, but you wouldn't know it based off of the intensity of its practices this week.

"We're still coaching with the same fervor that we were Week 1," Kaanapu said. "It's part of the consistency that we need to show these kids.

"Last week was very emotional for this team, but I'm very pleased with the way they've responded at practice.

"Our goal right now is to get to 5-5. We want to send the sophomores out winners in their final home game and then get ourselves ready for Modesto."

Should the Blue Devils reach 5-5, it would be the program's first .500 season in six years. Plus, based off of what Kaanapu and his staff have seen of the rest of the GGC, they believe the exact scenario they need to grab a share of the title, can and likely will happen.

"We just need to take care of business," tight end Kelsey Roulhac said. "That's what the coaches have been telling us.

"The last two weeks have been heart-breaking, but we have to bounce back from that. This is an opportunity for us to show what we're made of."

The Blue Devils' first test comes today as Los Medanos (0-3, 2-6) and the state's leading rusher Thomas Hampton (1,378 yards) pay Stadium '76 a visit. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

"Along with (Hampton), Los Medanos has two other game-breaker types of kid that we're going to have to be ready for," Kaanapu said. "They're a team that's been able to put some points up on people, so our defense is going to need to continue to be sound and our offense is going to need to punch in a few more chances."

Sean Lynch is a Sun-Star sports reporter. He can be reached at 385-2476 or via e-mail at slynch@mercedsun-star.com.