Merced will be tested early with a tough schedule that includes Central Catholic, Downey
The Merced High School football coaching staff will learn a lot about their team early in the season as they navigate a tough non-conference schedule.
The Bears will face three teams in the first four weeks that finished with a combined 30-10 record last year in Central Catholic, Downey and Monterey Trail. Central Catholic and Monterey Trail squared off in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship game last year.
“What we have to figure out with this group is, how tough are we? How are we going to respond in certain situations? How we respond is a reflection of our character,” said Merced Coach Rob Scheidt. “Are we going to quit or keep fighting?”
These were questions Merced coaches didn’t have to ask during last year’s run to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship game.
The Bears had already answered those questions in games against Central Catholic, Patterson and late in the playoffs against Kimball.
Merced will feature plenty of talent that will make them a factor in the race for a Central California Conference championship.
The Bears have offensive weapons on junior running back Chase Smith, receivers Enoch Evans and Jack Collins and three returners on the offensive line in Jalonn Booth, Jack Dunbar and Isaac Haro.
“Chase is as dynamic as anybody we’ve had,” Scheidt said. “He’s going to be valuable for us on offense and defense.”
Booth says he says a lot of similarities in this year’s group compared to last year’s team in terms of effort, but sees one thing missing.
“The guys play really hard,” Booth said. “Everyone has that drive to want to make plays and fly around. That’s Bear culture, we’re expected to fly around and swarm. The biggest difference is we don’t have the same leadership that we had with a Seth Scheidt.”
Seth Scheidt was the Bears starting quarterback and middle linebacker the past three seasons and the son of Rob Scheidt.
Merced also lost Seth Scheidt’s backup quarterback the past two seasons in Phoenix Lawrence who transferred from Merced High a few weeks ago.
Stepping in at quarterback is senior Carter Haugen, who transferred from El Capitan.
“He’s learning fairly rapidly, but there’s still a lot of coaching and teaching going on,” Rob Scheidt said. “He’s doing a good job of absorbing everything.”
Haugen’s learning curve will help determine just how successful Merced will be early on.
“We all have to step up,” Booth said. “This week (against Central Catholic) will be a big test. It will let us know where we’re at right now.”
2022 Schedule
Aug. 19 vs Central Catholic
Aug. 26 at Gregori
Sept. 2 vs Downey
Sept. 9 at Monterey Trail
Sept. 16 vs Atwater
Sept. 23 vs Patterson
Sept. 30 at El Capitan
Oct. 14 at Buhach Colony
Oct. 21 vs Central Valley
Oct. 28 at Golden Valley
