Mariposa gridders open the 2026 season with back-to-back shutouts and a combined 91-0 scoring margin.

Two games into the season, the Mariposa’s Grizzlies have done just about everything they could to announce themselves The Grizzlies followed a 42-0 season-opening win at Sierra on Sept. 3 with an even bigger 49-0 road victory over Bret Harte on Sept. 11, improving to 2-0 while outscoring opponents 91-0.

Friday’s win over Bret Harte continued the same early-season formula: a powerful rushing attack, enough passing-game efficiency to punish defenses, and a defense that has yet to allow a point. Against the Bullfrogs, Mariposa County piled up 359 rushing yards, added 84 passing yards and finished with 443 yards of offense in the 49-point shutout.

By the numbers

• Record: Mariposa County is 2-0 overall.
• Scoring margin: The Grizzlies have outscored Sierra and Bret Harte by a combined 91-0.
• Game 1: Mariposa County defeated Sierra 42-0 on the road.
• Game 2: Mariposa County defeated Bret Harte 49-0 on the road.
• Bret Harte game offense: 359 rushing yards, 84 passing yards and 443 total yards.
• Team rankings: Mariposa County is listed at No. 315 in California, No. 44 in the Sac-Joaquin Section, No. 2 in Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII and No. 24 in the Fresno area.

Early standouts

Senior running back and linebacker Rusty Bull has been the offensive headliner so far, averaging 156.0 rushing yards per game and leading the team with five total touchdowns, all on the ground. Lyell Marcis has added 40.5 receiving yards per game and four total touchdowns, while junior quarterback Austin Battles has thrown three touchdown passes, rushed for two more scores and posted a 133.6 quarterback rating through the available statistics.

Defensively, Manuel Siller leads the available tackle figures at 4.0 tackles per game. Joey McGrady has made an early impact up front with three sacks, one caused fumble and one fumble recovery. Ezekiel Weiland has helped finish drives on both sides of the ball, ranking among the receiving leaders while also leading the defense with two interceptions.

What the start says

The competition will rise as the schedule moves along, but the Grizzlies have checked the biggest early boxes: they have controlled the line of scrimmage, generated explosive production on the ground, protected the scoreboard defensively and traveled well. Starting 2-0 with two road shutouts gives Mariposa County both confidence and momentum before another road test.

Up next: Friday at Amador

Mariposa County is scheduled to visit Amador this Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Sutter Creek. Amador enters the matchup 1-1 after opening with a narrow 15-14 loss at Wheatland on Aug. 28 and rebounding with a 28-20 win at Denair on Sept. 11. The Buffaloes have scored 42 points and allowed 35 through two games, good for a 21.0-point scoring average, while Mariposa County has scored 91 and has yet to allow a point.

The matchup also creates a clear contrast in production. Mariposa County is averaging 421.5 total yards per game, including 325.0 rushing yards and 96.5 passing yards, while Amador is listed at 282.0 total yards per game, 257.0 rushing yards and 25.0 passing yards. Both teams have been active defensively, with Mariposa County averaging 40.5 tackles and 3.5 sacks per game and Amador averaging 39.5 tackles and 1.0 sack.

For Amador, running back/linebacker Nolan Nichols is the key offensive name, averaging 130.0 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Silas Peckinpaugh has averaged 25.0 passing yards and thrown one touchdown pass, while Gavin McCarty leads the receiving totals at 17.0 yards per game. Linebacker Calvin McKenna leads the Buffaloes defensively at 8.0 tackles per game and is credited with 0.5 sacks; he also has one full sack listed among Amador’s stat leaders.

If the first two weeks are any indication, the Grizzlies will arrive Friday with a clear identity: run the ball, spread the scoring around and let the defense squeeze the game. Amador has already played two tight road games and owns a win over Denair, so the Buffaloes should offer a stronger test than the final margins of Mariposa County’s first two games. Another clean performance would make Mariposa County 3-0 and strengthen its case as one of the early teams to watch in Division VII.