Merced is 3-0 against Golden Valley since September of 2023, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Thursday. The Merced Bears will challenge the Golden Valley Cougars at 7:00 p.m. Golden Valley took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Merced, who comes in off a win.
Merced took a loss when they played away from home on Thursday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They claimed a resounding 33-6 win over Los Banos at home. Given the Bears' advantage in MaxPreps' California football rankings (they are ranked 158th, while the Tigers are ranked 463rd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Merced found their leader in underclassman Antonia Lejarde, who threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, and also punched in a touchdown on the ground. Lejarde is on a roll when it comes to passing touchdowns, as she's now passed for three or more in the last three games she's played. Samantha Barragan made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.
Merced didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Alyssa Oseguera and Barragan.
Meanwhile, Golden Valley fell victim to El Capitan and their airtight defense on Tuesday. They had to suffer through a 46-0 loss at the hands of the Gauchos. The Cougars just can't catch a break and have now endured three losses in a row.
Merced is on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last nine contests, which provided a nice bump to their 12-5 record this season. As for Golden Valley, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-10.
Merced was able to grind out a solid victory over Golden Valley in their previous meeting back in September, winning 20-7. Does Merced have another victory up their sleeve, or will Golden Valley turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
