Two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but unfortunately for The Bella Vista Broncos, they weren't the ones who walked away with it. They had to suffer through a rough 47-0 loss at the hands of Merced. Having soared to a lofty 43 points in the game before, Bella Vista couldn't push the score so high this time.
Riley Dick threw for 49 yards on five of 12 attempts. Damian Rickett was his top target, picking up 34 receiving yards. On the ground, Logan Farren rushed for 42 yards.
Merced's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Quintell Dupree, who rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on only seven carries, and also threw for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Dupree was no stranger to the big play, turning on the jets for a run that went for 57 yards. Another player making a difference was Chase Smith, who rushed for 88 yards and three touchdowns on only 12 carries.
The team's defense also helped out by holding Bella Vista to a paltry 134 yards. A big part of that defensive dominance came down to Merced's ability to keep the quarterback under pressure: the team laid him out five times before it was all said and done. Bella Vista's QB won't forget Anthony Nixon anytime soon given Nixon sacked him twice.
Bella Vista has been struggling recently, as they've lost six of their last seven matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 4-7 record this season. As for Merced, the victory was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 8-3.
Bella Vista does not have any more games scheduled as of now. Merced will head out on the road to face off against Oakdale at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in California (Oakdale is ranked 163rd, while Merced is ranked 172nd).
