Merced-Hartnell football

Saturday's game
Merced (2-3) vs. Hartnell (4-1) at Rabobank, 6 p.m.
 No one has made a bigger impact on the Panthers this fall than Sherrod Hawkes, whose 594 rushing yards has him ranked third in the state in average yards per game at 118.8.
 Hawkes, who missed last season after rushing for over 1,400 yards in 2014, recorded a season high 191 yards and three touchdowns two weeks ago.
 What gets your attention is the 7.1 yards the Baltimore native averages each time he touches the ball for the Panthers.
 While it's unlikely Hartnell will see its single season school record for passing yards eclipsed for a third straight year, the aerial attack has been efficient behind Dorion Isaak.
 The left-handed quarterback has developed chemistry with Elisha Peat, who has four of Isaak's eight touchdown passes this fall.
 You can make an argument for linebacker Donyae Moody being the State's Defensive Player of the Year for the first half of the season.
 Moody is averaging a state leading 12.4 tackles a game. Monterey graduate Matt Wright has filled a need at linebacker with 25 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery.
 After a 2-0 start that saw them outscore the opposition 97-17, Merced has dropped three straight, albeit to two teams that are a combined 10-0, the other being a reigning conference champion.
 Both the Panthers and Merced have losses to 5-0 Shasta.