Merced’s Scoggins, Slaton ready if needed for showdown with Turlock

Ulonzo Gilliam held a football in each hand as he stood behind the action during Tuesday’s practice. Wearing shorts and a Merced High football t-shirt, Gilliam was lip-synching the song blaring out of the three large speakers while his teammates were preparing for the Bears’ biggest game of the season.

Gilliam’s availability for tonight’s showdown against Turlock may not be known until game time. The Merced junior is battling through a high ankle sprain.

If Gilliam, a running back, is unable to go, juniors Paul Scoggins and Rayveon Slaton will play big roles for the Bears (5-3, 3-0 Central California Conference) with the conference championship on the line.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Veterans Stadium.

“(Gilliam) has been prepping us,” Slaton said. “When we run a running play, he’s asking, ‘Do you know this? Do you got this?’ We’re way more comfortable now than we were early in the season.”

After Gilliam was hurt in the season opener, Slaton and Scoggins were going to step into the same role the following week against Monterey Trail until Gilliam was cleared to play hours before the game.

“It’s kind of easier now that we’re near the end of the season,” Scoggins said. “We know all the plays. We know everything we run. In Week 2, when we thought Lonzi wasn’t going to play, that was harder. Week 2 I was so confused. They’re throwing all these trick plays in. I didn’t know what was going on.”

The duo showed what they can do last week in a 38-21 win over Buhach Colony.

Gilliam dressed and tried to play against the Thunder, but came out of the game early and didn’t return. Gilliam injured the ankle late in Merced’s 28-21 win over Pitman on Oct. 16.

Scoggins and Slaton combined for 205 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Buhach Colony.

“We’ve got to play,” said Merced coach Rob Scheidt. “Last week was a good step in that direction. Those two are only going to get better. Instead of the reps in practice being split in thirds, they’ve been split in half.”

Turlock (6-1, 3-0) may be without a key player as well. Quarterback Peyton Dunseth is questionable after leaving last week’s win over Atwater with a shoulder injury.

The Bulldogs still have plenty of weapons in running backs Danny Velasquez and Brandon Booz and tight end Allen Padilla.

“From the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep, I’m thinking about this game,” Scoggins said. “I’ve been watching film, film, film.”

Playing time is nothing new for Scoggins and Slaton. They both play offense, defense and special teams. Scoggins returned a punt for a touchdown last week against Buhach Colony.

However, splitting the lion’s share of the carries at running back in a championship game is a role they feel they’re ready for, if needed.

“We’ve got to step up and find a way to fit in,” Slaton said. “We’re going to grind as hard as we can. It’s a big role for us. I’ve got to do my part and he’s got to do his part. We feed off each other. When he scores, I feel I have to get one. It’s like when he scored on the punt return last week. He told me, ‘It’s your turn.’ ”

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Scoggins is the shifty back, trying to make defenders miss. He carried the ball 16 times for 134 yards, including a five-yard touchdown run.

At 5-9, 180 pounds, Slaton is more of a power back with the ability to run through tackles. Slaton has the speed to break the big play too. He carried the ball 11 times for 71 yards against Buhach Colony, including a 45-yard touchdown run.

“We make everything competitive,” Scoggins said. “Who runs harder? Who makes the best cut? Who doesn’t make a mistake in practice? Everything is a competition.”

Scoggins admits he’s as nervous for this game as any he’s ever played. He grew up playing youth football against many of the Turlock players. He knows what’s at stake tonight.

Slaton does as well.

“All the seniors have been telling us how big the Turlock games are,” Slaton said. “It’s our biggest game of the year.”

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Merced’s Scoggins, Slaton ready if needed for showdown with Turlock."