Shawn Jansen: Rivalry football -- Santa Fe Bowl XL -- City against city

It's been quite a while since the Santa Fe Bowl had a "big game" feel to it.

Merced has had its way with Atwater in recent years, winning five straight games by a combined score of 219-64.

That should change on Friday night.

Both teams are out in front of the Central California Conference title race with Merced at 3-0 and Atwater 2-1.

The game should draw the biggest crowd at Stadium '76 this year.

It's Homecoming for Merced, and Atwater fans should come out in force after last week's 42-14 thumping of Pitman.

Tickets for the game went on sale on Wednesday morning at both schools.

It wasn't long ago when this was the big game each year.

Before there were Mayor's Cups and Bloss Bowls it was just Merced against Atwater.

City against City.

Rivals in every sense of the word.

"We were always smaller. We were always the underdog," said Carden Kalcevich, who served as Atwater's defensive coordinator from 1982-2005. "At that time, the kids from Merced and Atwater knew each other.

"There was no Golden Valley. There was no Buhach Colony. It was pretty intense."

The Santa Fe Bowl turns 40 this year. That's XL in Roman numerals.

There have been some great moments through the years.

There was 1992 when fans were treated to Santa Fe Bowl XXIII and XXIII1/2.

The two teams met with the CCC title on the line at the end of the regular season and then a couple weeks later in the semifinals of the playoffs.

"Our slogan that year was, 'It's great to beat Atwater once. It's even better to beat them

twice,' " said Mark Speckman, who coached Merced from 1986-93.

Merced's Anthony Volsan scored early touchdowns in both games as Merced cruised to wins in each game.

"To have beaten them three years in a row meant nothing if we had lost the final game of our high school careers to them," Volsan said. "If we had lost that game it would have no doubt haunted me the rest of my life, just as the De La Salle loss has, but worse."

The two teams played in another big showdown the following year at Stadium '76.

It was again Freddy Bland and Merced escaping with a narrow victory over Atwater.

"We scored a touchdown late and could have kicked the extra point and went to overtime," Kalcevich said. "I was up in the box and remember saying, 'No, we've got the momentum. Let's go for it.' "

Atwater went for a pass on the conversion and Ryan Koob's pass was just out of the reach of his tight end.

Although Merced has won 26 of the 39 Santa Fe Bowls, Atwater has had plenty of good moments.

After Speckman left Merced for Golden Valley in 1994, Atwater won five straight Santa Fe Bowls.

With dynamic players like Bernard Berrian and Eddie Macha, Atwater made three straight trips to the section title game from 1996-98.

Merced finally put an end to Atwater's streak with a 35-29 win in double overtime.

It was a memorable game for Merced assistant coach Willie Steverson.

Steverson thought he lost the game for Merced when his pass in the first overtime was intercepted by Atwater cornerback Cory Condren.

However, Atwater missed a potential game-winning field goal.

Merced fullback Josh Parker then gave Merced the win with a 10-yard touchdown run in the second overtime.

"I remember throwing the pick and going over to the sideline and sitting all by myself," Steverson said. "I was on one knee just asking for one more chance."

The two teams again hooked up in a thriller in 2000.

This time it was Atwater coming away with a 24-18 win.

Merced had a shot to take the lead in the final minutes.