Longtime Merced High football coach can earn 200th career win in playoff opener
Practicing in the cooler weather, under the stars is always a special time of year as Merced-area high school football teams hope Friday night is the start of a long playoff run.
The opening night of the playoffs could be even more memorable for Merced High head coach Rob Scheidt. A victory would give the longtime Bears coach career win No. 200.
Merced (7-3) is one of nine area teams to qualify for the playoffs. The seventh-seeded Bears will host No. 10 Rio Americano at Cathie Hostetler Stadium in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs at 7 p.m.
“There’s just just a different feel,” said Scheidt, who has compiled a career record of 199-120 in his 30th season at Merced. “I think there’s just this heightened sense of expectations, and this sense of we’ve got to get this done now. It kind of changes how you practice and how you tune in. It’s a real special time for kids and for coaches.”
Scheidt said he’s not sure how many of his players know he’s approaching the milestone. He has kept the focus on them, adding that it is significant that all of his wins have come at one school.
Merced’s Central California Conference championship this season was the 11th time Scheidt has guided the Bears to a conference title.
“I’m in a great place that I’m supported and cared for, and all those good things, and because of the loyalty the school has given me, I’ve returned it back to them,” Scheidt said. “It has resulted in great opportunities the best thing that I could say about Merced High is this thing is way bigger than me.”
Scheidt grew up as a son of a football coach. His father Tom Scheidt was a successful coach at Dos Palos High.
Rob Scheidt said he knew at a young age he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and coach football. He says his family, especially his wife Sandy, and his faith have allowed him to continue doing what he loves for so long.
“I’m serving a higher calling than just coaching football and teaching, so that keeps me really motivated to at least give my best in everything that I do,” Scheidt said.
Scheidt will become the first Merced County football coach to win 200 games since former Dos Palos coach Mike Sparks picked up his milestone victory in 2010.
If Merced wins and Scheidt does pick up the milestone win what will he be thinking?
“I’ll be thinking about West Park (in the second round),” Scheidt said. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, wow, we’ve won 200 games.’ It’s just going to be like, who’s next? That’s always been the mentality.”
In other first-round action, Atwater (8-2) returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The 10th-seeded Falcons will travel to No. 7 Vacaville in Division II action. Atwater finished runner-up to Merced in the Central California Conference.
In Division V, No. 11 Livingston (5-5) has one of the shortest road trips of any team in the Sac-Joaquin Section. The Wolves will travel 11 miles to face former Trans-Valley League rival No. 6 Hilmar (4-6).
The Wolves qualified for the playoffs in dramatic fashion as linebacker Miguel Hernandez scooped up a fumble and ran 76 yards for the winning touchdown in the second overtime of a 13-7 victory over Pacheco last week.
Hilmar has reached the playoffs nine consecutive years.
In Division VI, Delhi (8-2) will travel to No. 5 Orestimba (6-4). The Hawks clinched a share of their first Southern League championship in school history after last week’s 24-21 victory over Gustine.
In Division VII, No. 8 Gustine (4-6) will host No. 9 Golden Sierra. Stone Ridge Christian (8-2) earned the No. 2 seed in Division VII and received a first-round bye.
Chowchilla and Dos Palos will be in action in the Central Section Division IV playoffs.
Chowchilla (9-1) is seeded No. 6 after winning back-to-back Northwest Sequoia League championships. The Tribe will host No. 11 Cabrillo (7-3).
Dos Palos (6-4) also earned a home game as the No. 7 seed and will face No. 10 South (7-3).
