Blue Devils look for better performance against Yuba as Cocio, Cook chase history.
The Merced College football team has kept their sports information director Pat Kelly busy the past couple weeks.
With quarterback Frank Cocio and receiver Nick Cook closing in on school records, Kelly has been pouring through old stat sheets to chase down school record.
Kelly originally thought Cook, who has 15 touchdown receptions this season, was one away from tying the Merced College record for touchdown receptions in a season. That was until Kelly found all his stat sheets from the 1998 season. He discovered Imani Percoats caught 17 touchdowns that season.
With two games left in the regular season, Cocio and Cook have a good chance at breaking school records. Merced College (7-1) will host Yuba College (5-3) at Stadium ’76 on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Blue Devils quarterback-receiver duo hooked up for two touchdowns in last week’s 27-13 win over Gavilan College. That brought Cocio’s season total to 23. He’s three off of the record for touchdown passes in a season held by Chris Schaefer’s 26, which he set in 1976.
Cook now has 40 catches for 735 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.
How amazing was Percoats record-breaking season in 1998. The former Los Banos High star caught 87 passes for 1,686 yards and 17 touchdowns before moving on to Oregon State.
Cook already holds one Merced College record with his four touchdown catches in a game, which he set at Monterey Peninsula earlier this season.
While the Blue Devils have been effective through the air, MC would like to continue the success it had on the ground last week against Gavilan with the Blue Devils racking up 233 yards. Hanisi Lotulelei finished with 142 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Despite the win last week, Merced College wasn’t very happy with its performance. Mainly the three second-half turnovers.
The Blue Devils defense has been consistent all season and faces a Yuba offense that is only averaging 18.5 points and 239 yards per game.
This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Blue Devils look for better performance against Yuba as Cocio, Cook chase history.."