CENTRAL CALIFORNIA #1  >>

Merced (CA) GENERAL Nickname: Bears Colors: Black/Orange Coach: Rob Scheidt League: Central California Section: Sac-Joaquin Playoff Division: I Playoff Division Rank: #4 CA Bowl Division: North 1 (not yet official) CA Bowl Division Rank: #14 RETURNERS Returning Offensive Starters: 6 Returning Defensive Starters: 4 2007 JV Record: 7-3 Starting Quarterback Returning: no Top Running Back Returning: yes RATINGS 2007 Final Power Rating: 30.4 2007 National Rank: #1379 2007 State Rank: #119 Off-Season Rating Adjustment: +2 2008 Starting Power Rating: 32.4 2008 National Rank: #1073 2008 State Rank: #102 Dynasty Rating (Average 2003-2007 Rating): 19 Dynasty National Rank: #2124 2008 Rating vs. Dynasty Rating Comparison: better by 13.4 Dynasty Record: 39-17 (20-11 in league) HISTORICAL 2007 Overall Record: 11-1 2007 League Record/Finish: 6-0 (1st) 2007 Points For Average: 36.3 2007 Points Against Average: 13.6 2007 Differential: +22.7 2007 Wins: #1391 Crenshaw (Los Angeles) (21-14), #3258 Pitman (Turlock) (30-7), #4402 Sonora (16-6), #4450 Madera (50-0), #6594 Golden Valley (Merced) (35-0), #6889 Beyer (Modesto) (49-27), #7303 Davis (Modesto) (38-14), #7761 Los Banos (48-33), #7903 Turlock (49-7), #9680 Buhach Colony (Atwater) (38-14), #9828 Atwater (34-0) 2007 Losses: #491 St. Mary's (Stockton) (41-28) 2007 Opponents W-L: 65-66 Recent League Championships: 2007, 2006 Winning Streak Entering 2008 Season: none SCHEDULE 2008 Schedule: 9/12 vs Madera, 9/19 vs Napa, 9/26 vs Edison (Fresno), 10/3 vs Del Oro (Loomis), 10/10 vs Los Banos, 10/17 vs Buhach Colony (Atwater), 10/24 vs Golden Valley (Merced), 10/31 at Atwater, 11/7 at Turlock, 11/14 vs Pitman (Turlock) Highest-Rated 2008 Regular Season Opponents: Napa (51.2), Edison (Fresno) (45.6), Del Oro (Loomis) (29.1) Lowest-Rated 2008 Regular Season Opponents: Buhach Colony (Atwater) (-14.8), Los Banos (-8.3), Atwater (-5) 2007 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 4.7 (11.7 overall) 2008 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 11.3 2008 vs. 2007 Schedule Strength Comparison: +6.6 2008 Projected Regular Season Record: 8-2 2008 Projected League Finish: 1st 2008 Undefeated Regular Season Probability: 1% Opener: 9/12 vs Madera [projection: 42-14 win] Outlook: The Merced Bears lost a lot to graduation last year, but they return some highly recruited DI prospects. Bernard Bolden DB/RB/R, Ken Cooper TE/WR/DE and Nathan Mayfield DE/RB has received much interest from quality DI colleges. These players, and other additional talent, could keep the Bears in the forefront of competition seen in the last few years. As a team, the Bears have tremendous speed at the skills positions. But they must compensate for losses on the defensive line and linebacker positions. Coach Rob Scheidt said "We expect to compete every year. [This] year is no exception. We need to defend our conference title and get back to the Section Championship." Merced lost to a very talented St. Mary's (Stockton) in the second round of playoffs last year and missed the Sac-Joaquin Division I Championship by 1 point to Vacaville in 2006. So, the Bears are hungry to prove themselves at the highest level this year.