The game between Merced College and Chabot College on September 14, 2024, was a closely contested matchup that ended with a final score of 28-27 in favor of Chabot College. The game was held at Chabot College in Hayward, California, and had an attendance of 350 spectators.
The scoring started in the first quarter when Chabot College's Travion Newton caught a 5-yard pass from N. Harris for a touchdown, followed by a successful extra point by Donovan Umeki. Merced College responded in the second quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run by Tyler Jacklich, with Hector Gonzalez adding the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 going into halftime.
In the third quarter, Chabot College took the lead with two rushing touchdowns by Daemon Duran, one from 11 yards out and the other from 1 yard out. Merced College answered back with a 64-yard touchdown run by Tyler Jacklich to keep the game close at 21-14. The fourth quarter saw both teams trading touchdowns, with Jacklich scoring two more rushing touchdowns for Merced College and Duran adding another rushing touchdown for Chabot College.
Despite a late touchdown by Merced College, Chabot College held on to win the game 28-27 after a blocked extra point attempt by Merced College. The game was a back-and-forth affair with both teams showing determination and resilience throughout.
Statistically, Chabot College had a slight edge in total offense with 432 yards compared to Merced College's 328 yards. Chabot College also had a higher third-down efficiency at 64% compared to Merced College's 43%. However, Merced College had more total return yards at 139 compared to Chabot College's 116.
Individually, Tyler Jacklich was the standout player for Merced College, rushing for 167 yards and scoring four touchdowns. On the other side, Daemon Duran had a strong performance for Chabot College, rushing for 134 yards and scoring three touchdowns.
Defensively, both teams had solid performances, with players like Cody Chapman and Nate Krieger standing out for Merced College, while Andres Viernes and Freddy Moala made key contributions for Chabot College.
Overall, the game was a thrilling and competitive matchup between two evenly matched teams, with Chabot College ultimately coming out on top. The players showed great skill and determination, making for an exciting game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.