tool name

Friday, Sep. 04, 2009

Merced High dynasty in new hands

Marques Barron and his teammates have heard the doubters, the naysayers who believe this will be a down season for Merced.

That with big names like Bernard Bolden and Stephon Mathis no longer around, this will be a rebuilding year.

Barron doesn't buy it.

"I think people will doubt us until they see our first game," the senior defensive lineman said.

"People outside our locker room probably have different expectations. Inside our locker room, the expectations are the same."

Teammate Andrew Mendoza hears it from his family.

"My grandma has five kids, and there are 10 grandchildren," Mendoza said. "They all went to Golden Valley besides me.

"So I hear it all the time. 'You guys don't have Bernard or Stephon anymore. You guys won't be that good this year.'

"All I say is wait and see. That's all I can say."

"Wait and see" seems to be the team's motto, because, to a man, the players believe Merced's got talent.

"I don't think people expect much," senior offensive lineman Taj Brown said. "I kind of like it. Don't get me wrong, I like pressure.

"We still think we have a good team. We're working hard to make sure we're going to be a good team.

"It's brought us closer together. There are no big names, but we're still going to get the job done.

"There are players that people might not know now, but we have some guys that will turn some heads."

This group is well aware of the success the program has enjoyed in recent years.

Merced has won three straight Central California Conference titles, including 18 straight conference games.

Merced is an impressive 42-7 in the last four years.

This group wants to continue the winning tradition.

Now it's their chance to shine.

With many of the stars gone, it's an opportunity for players to come out of the shadows -- players like Barron, who already has a scholarship offer from UC Davis.

"He's bigger, stronger and more athletic than he's been," Merced coach Rob Scheidt said. "He's a vital part of our team."

Merced fans quickly will get to know Mendoza at running back and safety.

Brown and junior Gary Womack anchor a big, physical offensive line.

Junior Nick Zamora has been impressive early at wide receiver.

The defense will be led by defensive end Jarred Mounce, linebackers Andy Saeteurn and Devontrae Campbell, and cornerback Bobby Porter.

"Our guys know how to play football," Scheidt said. "They've done a great job preparing themselves. Now it's just a matter of them going out and make things happen.

"We had a 130-play scrimmage the other day. It was roughly 65 plays on offense and 65 plays for our defense.

"It looked a lot like the scrimmages we've had the last couple years."

Success won't come easy.

Again, Merced has one of the toughest schedules in the area, with non-conference games against Fresno Bullard, Napa, Fresno Edison and Loomis Del Oro.

"We don't have the people we could rely on last year," Mendoza said. "We can't just hand the ball off to Stephon and watch him run. We can't watch Allen (Huddleston) run around with the ball.

"It's going to take more of a team effort all the time."

The faces may change, but the expectations stay the same.

"Exactly," Barron said. "We want to win a section championship. It would be even better this year because nobody expects us to do it."