Joe Moraga, Christian Lopez anchor strong Merced offensive line
Christian Lopez’s list of injuries this season is a long one. The Merced High senior offensive tackle has dealt with a knee injury, two sprained ankles, an injured thumb and a sprained wrist.
Lopez did his best to make sure he was still at practice as much as possible.
“My body has taken a beating,” Lopez said. “I tape it up and go out there. I feel like when you can go out and practice when you’re hurt, you gain the respect of your other teammates. It shows them you’re all-in.”
Lopez, who is 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, has teamed with fellow senior Joe Moraga (6-3, 295) to give the Bears (8-3) two bookend tackles to anchor a talented offensive line that paves the way for an offense averaging 31 points per game heading into Friday night’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division I quarterfinal playoff matchup against No. 2 seed Elk Grove (11-0).
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Elk Grove High.
“We’ve let everyone know, there’s no secret that we’re going to try to run the ball,” said Merced coach Rob Scheidt, whose team has won seven in a row. “We’re a better team when we’re productive running the ball. (Lopez and Moraga) have allowed us to do that. Not just them, because our inside guys have played great, too. But those two give us big, physical guys who came into this season with 12 games of varsity experience.
“Both worked hard to get better. There’s a competitive nature between them. They are both great kids and they’ll do anything you ask them to do.”
The Bears know they’ll have their hands full against a Thundering Herd defense that hasn’t surrendered more than 20 points in a game this season.
Merced hopes the battle in the trenches will swing Friday’s matchup its way.
“It’s very important,” Moraga said. “We’re going up against a very skilled defensive line, but I think our offensive line can handle it. We just have to play our best game.”
The Bears have been hit hard by injuries all season. Quarterback Jake Foss has missed time. Running back Ulonzo Gilliam was in and out of the lineup early this season and has missed the past four games because of a high ankle sprain.
One of the few constants for the Bears has been the offensive line with Moraga, Lopez, center Manuel Ramirez and guards Brenden Booth and Victor Rojas.
“It has been, but it hasn’t been without injury,” Scheidt said. “There have been weeks when Christian didn’t practice much but has still been able to play. But that group has held together for the most part, and it’s been a group effort.”
We’ve let everyone know, there’s no secret that we’re going to try to run the ball. We’re a better team when we’re productive running the ball. (Christian Lopez and Joe Moraga) have allowed us to do that.
Merced High football coach Rob Scheidt
Ask Lopez or Moraga and they’ll tell you a big reason for the offensive line’s success is because they are a close-knit group. They lift weights together, they eat together, they enjoy hanging out together.
“All of us are best of friends,” Moraga said. “We’re all on a group chat. We text each other all the time. They are all my brothers.”
Scheidt believes both linemen are potential college recruits. Lopez, who didn’t play high school football until his sophomore season, isn’t sure if he’ll continue playing football beyond high school. Moraga has had contact with college coaches.
Both have developed into impact linemen through hard work on the practice field and in the weight room.
“For me, I’ve really been dedicated to the program,” Moraga said. “I bought into the program and I love my coaches. I take in everything they say. I try to be a nice guy and never have a bad attitude.”
Moraga, who was named the Central California Conference Lineman of the Year, and Lopez, who was an all-CCC second-team selection, are ready to do whatever is asked of them against Elk Grove. The Thundering Herd is led by running back Ryan Robards, who has rushed for 2,126 yards and 33 touchdowns, and a big offensive line of its own.
That means both Moraga and Lopez will see time on defense at tackle.
“Elk Grove is a big, physical football team,” Scheidt said. “We know that going in. One thing we like about the matchup is they have a lot of two-way guys. In that same respect, a lot of our guys are going to have to play both ways. It’s the end of the year. We’re going to put it all out there and play 48 minutes of football.”
Shawn Jansen: 209-385-2462, @MSSsports
This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Joe Moraga, Christian Lopez anchor strong Merced offensive line."