Rested Modesto High will get even more rest before grueling home stretch

Modesto High School coach Donnie Wallace will have a well-rested football team when his squad returns to Modesto Metro Conference action Oct. 21, following a bye this Friday night.

Problem is, his team might be too well rested.

After three wipeout victories over Johansen, Davis and Enochs, the Panthers haven’t needed to play their starters in the fourth quarter since a 38-6 loss to Turlock on Sept. 16.

“It’s a good thing and a bad thing,” Wallace said at Tuesday’s Quarterback Club meeting, referring to all the rest his team is getting lately. “We’ve got the real tough part of our schedule coming up and, most likely, we’re going to have to play four quarters against the Downey, Beyer and Gregori teams. So, this week, we’ll just get after condition and get (the players’) wind up.”

Downey is tied with Modesto atop the MMC standings at 3-0, while Beyer (2-1) and Gregori (1-1) are close behind.

In a preseason coaches poll, Modesto was picked to finish third, behind Downey and Gregori.

As it stands now, at 6-1 overall, Modesto is a lock to gain at least an at-large playoff bid, if not one of the two automatic spots awarded to the MMC.

Downey (5-1) and Beyer (4-3) also seem assured of getting to the magical six-win plateau that all but guarantees a playoff bid.

Last season, Downey, Modesto and Beyer shared the MMC title.

The Panthers finish with Downey on Oct. 21, Gregori on Oct. 28 and Beyer on Nov. 4.

“Playing these three opponents, if you do well, that’s going to bode well, hopefully, for you if you do make the playoffs,” Wallace said. “Taking care of business early on was good. Now we can concentrate on these games. Especially with the bye, that’s what we’ll work on, a lot of fundamentals.”

The Panthers are coming off a 56-27 win over Enochs. Quarterback R.J. Berumen completed 8 of 12 passes for 261 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Teammate Markus Brady had four catches for 133 yards, which included an 85-yard hook-up with Berumen, one rushing attempt for 40 yards, and he returned the second-half kickoff to the 2-yard line, which led to a Panthers score.

This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Rested Modesto High will get even more rest before grueling home stretch."