Blocked punt helps Merced defeat Golden Valley, extend Mayor’s Cup streak to 18 in a row
The 30th iteration of the Battle for the Mayor’s Cup was a game full of big plays and momentum swings.
None, however, may have been more impactful than a blocked punt by Merced’s Bryon Peterson early in the third quarter.
A high snap set the stage for the drama as Golden Valley punter Joseph Alonzo was forced to make a leaping one-handed catch. The delay was all the time Peterson needed, as he burst through a seam and got two hands on the football just as Alonzo tried to kick it away.
Jatavious Lewis scooped up the loose ball and rumbled two yards for the score, setting the tone for a dominant second half by the Bears. Merced scored on three of four second-half possessions, leaving no doubt in a 38-16 victory over its crosstown rivals at Cathie Hostetler Stadium on Friday night.
The win makes it 18 straight Mayor’s Cup victories for the Bears and gives them a 22-8 all-time edge in the series.
“Coach had the talk with us at halftime that we needed to open our eyes and realize how much we wanted the 18th straight win,” Peterson said “Shoutout to coach Ezra (Morales). He showed me how to really block it. I got a little too excited. I should have picked it up and scored, but much love to my teammate for picking me up.”
Fast starts were a common theme for the Bears (1-0 Central California Conference, 2-2) on the night as they raced out to a 14-0 lead.
Merced needed just nine plays for quarterback Quintell Dupree to toss touchdown passes to Jeremy Garcia (52 yards) and Jordan Dupree (11 yards).
The Cougars (0-1 CCC, 3-2) weathered the initial storm and started climbing back into the game.
Defensive end Ethan Richards gave GV a short field after pouncing on a Merced fumble. Jonah White took advantage, hauling in an Austin Mello 24-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead in half. It was the start of a monster evening for White, who caught 11 passes for 145 yards and added a rushing score.
Jonathan Gomez-Roldan chipped in a 33-yard field goal on the Cougars’ next possession to pull them within 14-10 at the half.
“We jumped out on them, but I knew their style and never felt comfortable the whole first half,” Merced head coach Rob Scheidt said. “That’s a credit to them. I really felt like watching film, they have a real identity this year and they weren’t just going to go away.
“I’m proud of our response. We talked to the guys at halftime and told them if they just stay this way for 24 minutes, we were going to get our 18th straight victory.”
White answered the blocked punt with a four-yard rushing score to pull GV within 21-16 about midway through the third quarter. Merced left no doubt, however, scoring the game’s last 17 points.
The Bears sandwiched touchdown runs from Adarias Morales-Saetern (17 yards) and Dupree (one yard) around a Logan Harsh 30-yard field goal to seal the victory.
“We just had too many mistakes,” Cougars coach Rick Martinez said. “The atmosphere was loud. We had guys that couldn’t even hear the play. We had two-way players coming off the field and not getting guys on to replace them.
“I don’t want to say the blocked punt was a dagger, but they got the momentum from it and we could never seem to get it back. In a game like this, you almost have to be perfect with a little bit of luck. And we weren’t anywhere near perfect.”