David Mariano called it a dream game.
It's easy to understand why. With nothing but pride on the line Friday night Merced and Golden Valley turned in a crosstown shootout.
The two foes exchanged big play after big play with neither squad ever able to pull away.
That set the stage for Mariano to make sure the dream didn't turn into a nightmare for the Bears.
The senior hauled in a punt at the Merced 31-yard line, cut left, broke a pair of tackles and then raced down the Veterans Stadium sideline for a 69-yard game-winning score with 5:55 to play.
The Bear defense took care of the rest, intercepting Ridge Bertuccio on GV's final two possessions to seal a 40-33 Mayor's Cup victory.
"I was just thinking it's time to step up and start making some plays," said Mariano who also caught a TD pass in the game. "I just saw a bunch of guys coming down the right, so I went left.
"I broke a couple tackles and then the field opened up for me."
Open field was a theme in this game as the two teams combined for over 850 yards of total offense.
GV (0-5 CCC, 2-8) had the hot hand early, racing to a 13-0 first-quarter lead.
Bertuccio (18 of 32 for 313 yards and 3 TDs) hit Andre Bodiker with a 75-yard touchdown pass four minutes into the game and connected with Bryant Brown for 23 yards on the Cougars' next possession.
Merced (2-3 Central California Conference, 4-6) answered with a 26-point outburst in the second quarter.
Eli Gutierrez (6 of 12 passing for 146 yards and three touchdowns and 17 carries for 129 yards and one touchdown) got the scoring started with a 15-yard run.
He then hit long pass plays to Brendon Yaley, Mariano and David Keys to give Merced a 26-19 lead at intermission.
Golden Valley didn't fold.
The Cougars turned Merced away at the goal line on the first possession of the second half and then marched 84 yards for the game-tying score. Bertuccio found Chris Winzer with a 14-yard toss make it 26-26.
Merced answered on its next possession with a Jaquari People (21 carries for 104 yards) 8-yard TD run.
Golden Valley countered with a Ernie Teal 4-yard TD run to tie things back up with 10:13 to play.
In a game where defense was in short supply, both teams finally produced some in the last six minutes.
After Mariano's go-ahead punt return, Merced's offense took back over following a GV three-and-out.
The Cougar defense stood its ground, getting GV the ball back with 3:47 to play.
Unfortunately for the Cougars, Bertuccio was intercepted by People on the very next play.
Golden Valley got another chance when People and Gutierrez got crossed up on a read handoff and fumbled the ball.
GV elation lasted one play as Bertuccio was intercepted by Jeremy Busko to secure the win.
"We didn't make things easy on ourselves, but the defense finally got in a rhythm at the end," Merced head coach Rob Scheidt said. "We finally got some pressure on their quarterback and he forced some passes."
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