Merced’s Stewart named CCC co-MVP in football with Turlock’s Velasquez

Merced High School football coach Rob Scheidt may get multiple requests from his players next year for jersey No. 2.

For the third consecutive year, a Bears player wearing No. 2 was named the Central California Conference MVP after senior A.J. Stewart was named co-MVP with Turlock junior Danny Velasquez by conference coaches.

“A.J. kept the No. 2 string alive for us,” said Scheidt, who was named Coach of the Year. “For us, it’s been a guy that has been a playmaker to wear the jersey. Maybe in the future we just need to say, ‘Hey, you’re wearing this number.’ ”

Stewart played many roles for the Bears (8-3) during their 5-0 run to a third consecutive CCC championship. The third-year receiver caught 29 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns in five CCC games. He also was named all-conference as a punter and kicker and made an impact on defense from the secondary.

“Whatever they wanted me to do I was there to do,” Stewart said. “It didn’t matter what it was.”

Stewart said he started his Merced High career wearing No. 2 as a freshman, but when he moved up to varsity as a sophomore he had to wait his turn behind the last two conference MVPs, Travante Richard and Jabar Byrd.

“That’s just the number everyone wanted,” Stewart said. “I had to wait in line to have it.”

Like Stewart, Velasquez played all over the field for Turlock. The Bulldogs star played running back, defensive back and, when quarterback Peyton Dunseth was hurt toward the end of the season, Velasquez moved under center against Merced and Pitman.

Merced players took two other major awards with quarterback Jake Foss named Best Offensive Player and Joseph Moraga earning Lineman of the Year. Turlock linebacker Mustafa Johnson was named Best Defensive Player.

“I thought it would play out that A.J. would get MVP and Danny Velasquez would get Offensive Player, but when they were both named MVPs, Jake was the obvious choice for Best Offensive Player,” Scheidt said.

Foss completed 65 of 114 passes for 967 yards with nine touchdowns in conference games.

The Bears had nine players named to the all-CCC first team, including two-way players Stewart (receiver/punter), Paul Scoggins (running back/defensive back) and Brandon McKinney (receiver/defensive back).

They were joined on the first team by teammates Moraga, Brenden Booth (offensive line), Foss, David Perales (defensive line), John Becerra (defensive end) and Marco Granados (inside linebacker).

Turlock also landed nine players on the first team, including running back Brandon Booz, inside linebacker Chris Silva and defensive back David Perez.

Other local players named to the first team were Golden Valley quarterback Armando Muzquiz, Atwater receiver Josh Wilson and Buhach Colony outside linebacker Jace Alcazar.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 7:51 PM with the headline "Merced’s Stewart named CCC co-MVP in football with Turlock’s Velasquez."