Merced High football team eyeing to repeat as CCC champions with key players returning
When nearly an entire offense returns, a coach can dig deeper into the playbook earlier into the season.
That’s the situation Merced High football coach Rob Scheidt finds himself in and you better believe in his 30th season as head coach of the Bears his playbook is pretty thick.
“We’re already adding stuff,” said Scheidt, who has compiled a 192-117 record in 29 years. “Our base stuff is in, and then some of the stuff that we were probably doing mid-year last year, we’re doing now. So so we’re ahead of the game, and I think we’re operating probably at a higher level right now than we were a year ago.”
It helps when you have a third-year quarterback like Quintell Dupree orchestrating the offense. Dupree threw for 1,439 yards and 19 touchdowns last season to go along with 344 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
“I think anytime you go into a season with a three-year varsity starting quarterback there’s a lot of questions that are already answered,” Scheidt said. “Quintell has to still go out and play, but the game is a lot slower for him. He’s a lot bigger, stronger and more knowledgeable than he was last year.”
Helping Dupree will be the return of all four of the Bears’ top receivers from last year in his brother Jordan Dupree and three teammates Julian Higareda, Jeremy Garcia and Antonio Aaron.
“It’s still the same, there were no big changes with our receivers,” said Quintell Dupree. “I feel pretty good there.”
The Bears have two quality running backs in Adarias Morales Saetern and Cammari Jackson and three players who saw a lot of time on the offensive line in Jonathan Griggs, Kaleb Caudillo and Koy Wicker.
All the pieces are there for Merced to have an explosive offense and make the Bears the favorite to repeat as champions in the Central California Conference.
“I think we’re confident in the process that we have in place,” Scheidt said. “We’re excited about the group of guys that we have. But you know, every team is different, and every team has to find their identity.”
The Bears are going to be tested early with a non-conference schedule that includes Patterson and Downey.
Merced also has to fill in some spots on defense with only four starters returning.
“I feel like we’re a strong group,” Morales Saetern said. “We continue to work hard. Every day we put our full effort into this. We’re a family right now and we’re going to continue to build and see who we are as a team.”
“We have a lot more on our shoulders and the pressure is on, but we’re ready,” Morales Saetern added. “We’ve been practicing since the spring and working hard all summer.”
Merced 2024 Schedule
Aug. 23 at Patterson
Aug. 29 at Gregori
Sept. 6 vs Downey
Sept. 20 at Madera
Sept. 27 vs Enochs
Oct. 4 at Golden Valley
Oct. 11 vs Los Banos
Oct. 18 vs El Capitan
Oct. 25 at Atwater
Nov. 1 vs Buhach Colony
