Football Recap: Merced Skates Past Independence with Ease

Bears

Previous 6 Games

09/13/25 vs Independence	42-6
09/06/25 @ Rancho Cucamonga	44-20
09/06/25 vs South Hills	32-12
09/04/25 @ Bellflower	24-12
08/28/25 vs Grace Davis	64-12
08/23/25 vs Escalon	32-0

Merced waltzed into their game on Saturday with five straight wins... but they left with six. They claimed a resounding 42-6 victory over the Independence 76ers. Given the Bears' advantage in MaxPreps' California football rankings (they are ranked 41st, while the 76ers are ranked 414th) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.

Antonia Lejarde threw for 286 yards and five touchdowns while completing 78.9% of her passes. Averie Steverson was her top target, picking up 90 receiving yards and three TDs.

Merced's win bumped their record up to 10-1. As for Independence, the defeat snapped their winning streak at four games and leaves them with a 4-2 record.

Coincidentally, Merced and Independence will both be playing Milpitas the next time they take the field. The Bears will head out to face the Trojans at 10:40 a.m. on Saturday, while the 76ers will play them later in the day, at 12:20 p.m.