Merced College scores late to erase a 13-point second-half deficit in win over Los Medanos
Justin Incaprera scored on an 8-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to help lift the Merced College football team to a 41-34 victory over Los Medanos College on Saturday night at Stadium ‘76.
The late touchdown capped a big night for Incaprera, who carried the ball 36 times for 193 yards and three touchdowns.
The Blue Devils (2-1) overcame a 34-21 deficit in the second half with 20 unanswered points.
Incaprera scored his second touchdown on a 7-yard run to pull MC within 34-28 with 4 minutes and 45 seconds left in the third quarter.
Isaiah Hidalgo hauled in his second touchdown pass from quarterback Aiden Meyer to tie the game at 34-34 early in the fourth quarter. Hidalgo finished with four catches for 97 yards.
A bad punt by Los Medanos set up the Blue Devils offense at the Mustangs’ 32-yard line with 4:06 left in the game.
Merced College kept the ball on the ground all six plays, with Incaprera carrying the ball five times on the drive, including the game-winning touchdown with 1:14 left on the clock.
Los Medanos drove down to the Blue Devils’ 6-yard line on the final drive but the clock expired after a 13-yard run by quarterback Jake Byrne.
The Mustangs returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and scored twice on defense, returning two fumbles for scores.
Linebacker Nate Ruiz led the Blue Devils defense with 10 tackles. Jaylen Thao-Booth and Jacob Tanori both recorded sacks for MC.
The Blue Devils are a bye next week before hosting Hartnell on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.
