Merced College delivers new football coach his first victory in debut against Redwoods
Isaiah Hidalgo scored two touchdowns as the Merced College football team made head coach Justin Pinasco a winner in his debut with a 27-19 victory over College of the Redwoods on Saturday afternoon at Stadium ’76.
Pinasco spent 27 years as a Blue Devils assistant before taking over the program this offseason for former head coach Bob Casey.
Pinasco saved the praise for his players, who battled triple-digit heat on a blazing Central Valley afternoon.
“There was quite a bit of good and bad out there,” Pinasco said. “We have quite a bit to clean up, but I’m proud of my guys for playing through that heat. I think we wore them down.”
The Blue Devils had to battle back from an early mistake as Redwoods linebacker Maximus Tapulaaia intercepted a pass from Jacob Bettencourt and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
With the Merced College offense stalling early, the Blue Devils defense came up with a big play as linebacker Nate Ruiz intercepted a pass and set up the offense at the Redwoods 3-yard line late in the first quarter.
Fullback Luke Anderson would score on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Blue Devils a 7-6 lead with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
“Huge play (by Ruiz),” Pinasco said. “He was fighting to get in there. He was fighting to score.”
Michael Dinkins added a second interception for the Blue Devils in the first half.
Bettencourt connected with Xavier Mason on a 59-yard pass that helped set up a 17-yard touchdown pass from Bettencourt to Hidalgo that extended the MC lead to 14-6 with 11:06 left in the first half.
“I was trying to get to the back pylon and Bettencourt just threw a good ball,” Hidalgo said.
Hildalgo struck again for the Blue Devils by starting the second half with a 96-yard kickoff return to give MC a 21-6 lead.
“I knew that was a chance to make a big play and put us in good position in the second half,” Hidalgo said. “I just saw a lane. That was a great setup by the second row.”
The Blue Devils were able to get their running game going, as sophomore Justin Incaprera picked up 75 of his 85 rushing yards in the second half.
Bettencourt finished 15 of 28 for 205 yards and one touchdown.
Merced College tacked on two field goals in the second half by Jason Mendoza.
The one blemish for the Blue Devils special teams was surrendering a 99-yard kickoff return to Redwoods late in the game.
The Blue Devils will travel to Foothill next week for a 7 p.m. game Saturday in Los Gatos.
