Merced Bears

Coach: Rob Scheidt

Career record: 122-72

Record at school: 104-70

Last year: Merced (4-6, 2-3) has gone three straight years without making the playoffs, among the longest stretches in the program’s modern history, and a whopper of a preseason schedule has contributed to those struggles. The Bears scored 25 a game, and gave up 25 a game, and were in the playoff race until a Week 10 loss to Pitman.

Last league title: 2008

Last playoff berth: 2008

Coaching staff: Paul Hogue, Steve DiSalvo, Rennel Rhodes, Willie Steverson, Artie Mattes, Tom Scheidt, BJ Austin, Christian Carlson, Reno Martinelli, Dean Hammit.

Top returners: QB Eli Gutierrez, WR/DB Bradley Adamson, RB/DB Errol Dennis, WR/DB David Keys, DL Jamell Bedford, WR Keith Bolden, RB/OLB Brendan Yaley, ILB Sam Scheidt, DE Anthony Munoz, DB Jeremy Busko, OL Justin Maxwell, TE Rocky Hogue,DL Josh Villanueva, OL Steven Brent.

Top newcomers: Mitchell Meyer, Jermon Cook, Justin Solis, Travante Richard, Bradley Berns, Tony Lopez, OL/DL Omar Sandoval. Outlook: Gutierrez (94 of 192, 1,381 yards, 11 TDs, 13 INTs; 750 yards rushing, 5-yard avg., 7 TDs) was the leading passer and rusher a year ago, but the Bears are hoping Dennis (220 yards, 4.5 avg., 3 TDs) can carry some of that burden this fall. … Coach Scheidt has a strong core of returning players, and there’s speed coming up from the JV team, too. … The Bears have the depth up front, and they’ll need that based on a schedule full of offensive threats. … Adamson (18 catches, 16.5 avg., TD) and Keys (8 catches, 12.8-avg., 2 TDs) worked with Gutierrez in the offseason, and they’re hoping to get the Bears back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. … The schedule remains one of the most challenging in the district, and Merced picked up a pass-happy team (Downey in Week 1) and a run-based team (Enochs in Week 3) close to home.

Key game: Week 9 (Oct. 19) vs. Buhach Colony. The road to the title has gone through Buhach the last couple of years, and the Bears begin every season with a CCC crown as their priority. It’s late enough in the season for the Bears to have gained experienced on both sides of the line, and a victory could be what turns this program back in the right direction.