Merced is team to beat again in Central California Conference
A.J. Stewart finally gets to wear No. 2 again. The Merced High School senior wore the number as a freshman.
Playing varsity as a sophomore, Stewart watched teammate Travante Richard wear No. 2 and earn the Central California Conference MVP honor. Jabar Byrd wore the number last year and was also named the conference MVP.
Can Stewart extend the streak?
I’m going to leave everything I have on the field for this last season.
Merced wide receiver A.J. Stewart
The receiver hopes to do everything he can to help lead the Bears to a third consecutive CCC championship. He has worked out just about every day with new quarterback Jake Foss over the summer.
Stewart believes the last two years have helped prepare him to be a leader this season.
“I’m ready,” said Stewart, who caught 35 passes for 544 yards and six touchdowns last season. “I’ve been ready. I’ve been waiting since basketball season was over. I want to make it to playoffs again. I’m going to leave everything I have on the field for this last season.”
The Bears are the favorites to win the CCC again and for good reason. They should have an explosive offense with running back Ulonzo Gilliam, who averaged 9.8 yards per carry while rushing for 618 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
Stewart and Brandon McKinney headline a talented receiving core, and the offensive line could have five senior starters, led by Christian Lopez, Joe Moraga and Manuel Ramirez.
“Up front, we all know how to communicate with each other,” Lopez said. “We’ve all been together going on four years.”
The team is confident Foss can orchestrate the offense as a first-year starter.
“Jake has had a really good offseason,” Merced coach Rob Scheidt said. “He’s really worked hard. He has a great opportunity to spread the ball around if he doesn’t focus in on one guy. I think one thing that will help is the experience on the offensive line. If we’re able to run the ball early, it will take a lot of pressure off of him.”
Defensively, the Bears are loaded with speed with players like defensive end John Becerra, linebacker Anthony Wilson and a secondary that includes Gilliam, Paul Scoggins and Rayveon Slaton.
As long as we prepare each week, it’s not about who we play. It’s about how we play against them.
Merced lineman Christian Lopez
“Anthony Wilson has 12 games of experience at linebacker,” Scheidt said. “John Becerra causes problems on the defensive line. It’s tough to block that guy because of his motor. I feel our secondary is really good. They’re fast and they understand how to play the back end of our defense.”
The Bears’ obstacles include what Scheidt consders their toughest nonconference schedule in his 20 years with the program. Merced plays Clovis West, Monterey Trail, Edison, Clovis North and Lincoln of Stockton the first five games.
“We’re talking about five games against teams that were all in the playoffs except one team,” Scheidt said. “Many of them made deep playoff runs. They are teams with tradition and programs that put out good teams year in and year out.
“We’d love to win them all, but we want to get better each week. If you don’t take each game one week at a time, the schedule can overwhelm you.”
The players like the big-time matchups each week.
“As long as we prepare each week, it’s not about who we play,” Lopez said. “It’s about how we play against them.”
Shawn Jansen: 209-385-2462, @MSSsports
This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 11:02 PM with the headline "Merced is team to beat again in Central California Conference."