Devils lose cool, game to Hartnell

For the second time in as many weeks the Merced College football team found itself in a close and heated contest.

And for the second time in as many weeks the Blue Devils’ discipline was found wanting when it mattered most.

Hartnell more than deserved its 42-35 victory at Stadium ’76 on Saturday, being the first team to outplay the Blue Devils this season, but it received plenty of help along the way. Merced’s talent managed to keep it in the game until the final minute, but Bob Casey’s squad couldn’t keep its emotions in check as it attempted to rally.

“I warned them about this, but they didn’t heed my warning,” Casey said. “After two games it starts being less of an anomaly and now it starts to be a question of character. It’s not a good situation to find yourself in as a coach this late into the season.

“Hartnell’s a good football team. They’re the defending conference champs. They don’t need much help, and we continue to be our own worst enemies.”

The Blue Devils (2-3, 0-1 Golden Coast Conference) shook off an ugly opening quarter and used touchdown runs by Josh Stevens (32 and 95 yards) and a Stephon Cross 1-yard touchdown reception to take a 21-20 lead into the half.

Hartnell (5-0, 2-0) gifted Merced another score early in the third quarter when a muffed punt gave the Blue Devils a short field. Randy Jones found Cross for a second time, connecting on a 4-yard score to make it 28-20.

The Panther offense took over the game from there, scoring on its next three possessions.

Quarterback Justyn Gutierrez (27 of 41 for 371 yards and 5 touchdowns) turned in his best performance of the season against MC’s vaunted secondary. He threw touchdown passes to Skye Keller, Eppy Henrigues (8 catches, 109 yards, 2 TDs) and Ronnie Turner (12-207, 2) to give Hartnell a 42-28 lead with 7:24 to play.

Just when the Blue Devils looked out of it, a big play got them right back in the fight.

Nathaniel Nelson came on in relief of an injured Jones for the second straight week and made an instant impact. A pair of Hartnell penalties on a Merced kickoff set up the Blue Devils at midfield. Nelson found Nih-Jer Jackson (3-104) for a 49-yard touchdown pass on his very first play, trimming the lead to seven points with 7:01 to play.

The MC defense seized the momentum, getting one of the evening’s rare quick stops and handing the ball back to the offense with 5:36 to play. The ensuing drive stalled at the Merced 44-yard line.

Faced with a fourth and 10 and still possessing all three timeouts, Casey opted to punt. His team never got the ball back.

Gutierrez passed for a first down, then an MC personal foul on a negative-yardage run play allowed the Panthers to run out the clock.

“We didn’t keep our cool. Guys got caught up in the emotions of the game and put blame on each other, instead of sticking together,” said linebacker Troy Lowe, who finished with a team-high 10 tackles and a sack. “We struggled with slants all night. We either didn’t pick guys up or reroute guys like we needed to.

“Then when we get in tight situations at the end of the game, we get down on ourselves instead of staying positive.”

This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 1:13 AM with the headline "Devils lose cool, game to Hartnell."