Fireworks expected with two high-scoring offenses in Merced-East Union playoff game
Points may come fast and often when the Merced High football team hosts East Union in the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs on Friday night at Veterans Stadium.
It’s a matchup of two high-powered offenses led by talented quarterbacks.
The No. 4 seeded Bears (7-3) averaged 43 points per game with an offense orchestrated by third-year starter Seth Scheidt.
Scheidt is coming off his best game of his career in a 58-26 win over Golden Valley in which he passed for 315 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 144 yards and another score.
The Bears defense must prepare to face the Lancers dual-threat quarterback of their own in Luke Weaver, who has passed for 2,991 yards and 30 touchdowns this season to go a long with 709 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
“On paper this game looks like a shoot out ,” said Merced coach Rob Scheidt. “Compared to the teams we’ve played (East Union) is much like Patterson. It’s going to come down to can we play well on defense and come up with key stops in key opportunities.”
Both teams have played tough schedules.
The Bears went toe-to-toe with Central Catholic, Downey and Patterson this season. The Lancers played Valley Oak League foes Kimball, Manteca and Central Catholic tough and defeated Ripon 41-26 in the season opener.
“The losses they have are to good football teams,” Rob Scheidt said. “Those teams are all in the playoffs and were in contention for championships in their leagues.”
Scheidt said he gambled the No. 5 Lancers would defeat Del Campo in the first round to earn the second-round matchup with Merced so the Bears coaching staff started game planning against the Lancers during their bye week.
The coaching staff didn’t have to tweak much this week after watching East Union’s 51-7 win over Del Campos last week.
The Bears are going to have to slow down Weaver and receiver Dylan Lee and the Lancers strong screen game. Weaver likes to get rid of the ball quickly and let his receivers work in space.
“We have to find a way to put pressure on their quarterback,” said Merced senior defensive lineman Jaylen Thao-Booth. “We have to get him off his spot and we have to execute well in the secondary. Their passing game is really strong, especially their screen game.”
The Lancers defense will have their hands full with Merced’s stable of receivers in Enoch Evans, Evahn Perez and Jack Collins who all have big-play potential.
Merced’s rushing attack has also been strong behind Seth Scheidt and running backs Ryan Lee and Chase Smith.
“I think we’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Booth said. “East Union already knows the feeling of playing in a playoff game, but a lot of our guys have players in similar situations before. It’s exciting for us.”
