Merced scores two touchdowns late for comeback win over Hilmar in CCC showdown
One play brought the Merced High sideline to life.
Bears quarterback Seth Scheidt hooked up with sophomore receiver Jack Collins for a 75-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.
After Hilmar’s defense had suffocated the Bears’ offense for 44 minutes, Merced suddenly had a chance to win.
The Bears defense came up with a big stop and then Merced went to work, driving 88 yards on 11 plays as Scheidt connected with receiver Raheem Choyce on a 12-yard screen pass for a touchdown as the Bears pulled off a shocking 14-13 win over Hilmar on Friday night at Veterans Stadium.
“We were dead in the water,” said Merced coach Rob Scheidt, whose team improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Central California Conference. “We got out of rhythm when Cody (Chapman) got hurt in the first half and we couldn’t get back in rhythm. The kids just believed in themselves and this is what can happen.”
Hilmar (2-1 CCC) was in complete control as the Yellowjackets built a 13-0 lead behind two field goals from Andres Alves and a 52-yard touchdown pass from Seth Miguel to Derek Taylor.
The Yellowjackets limited the Bears to just 73 yards of total offense on 35 plays through the game’s first 44 minutes.
That’s when the game turned.
Seth Scheidt, who had thrown two interceptions, fired a deep pass down the right sideline to Collins, who hauled in the reception and outraced the Yellowjackets secondary for the 75-yard score that pulled the Bears to within 13-7 with 3 minutes, 32 seconds left in the game.
“I didn’t have to throw it to him but I trusted that he was going to be the corner and he did,” Seth Scheidt said. “Jack Collins, he’s a sophomore, so he’s going to be really good and God just blessed me with a great throw.”
The Bears offense was quickly back on the field after the defense forced a three-and-out.
Seth Scheidt then led an 87-yard drive, completing, eight-of-10 passes for 81 yards, including the screen pass to Choyce that tied the game at 13.
“I actually kind of waited to throw it a little bit to where it opened up and then it was wide open,” Seth Scheidt said. “That’s actually the same way we scored against Central Catholic so it just felt really good. We executed it well.”
Merced kicker Dominic Mallari then nailed the extra point to give the Bears a 14-13 lead just a week after he missed an extra point in overtime in a 14-13 loss to Central Catholic.
Hilmar lined up for a 52-yard field goal attempt with 2 seconds left, but the Bears blocked Alves attempt to preserve the victory.
Seth Scheidt threw for 156 yards in the final 3:32 after throwing for just 48 yards in the first 44:28 of the game.
I’m just glad my team trusted me after throwing two picks.,” he said. “You know I was having a hard time trusting myself, but they encouraged me. Yeah, we got the ‘W.’”
The win sets up two big games for Merced to close the season – Golden Valley next week and Atwater in the final week.
“We’re one step closer to winning CCC,” Seth Scheidt said.
This story was originally published April 2, 2021 at 11:42 PM with the headline "Merced scores two touchdowns late for comeback win over Hilmar in CCC showdown."
