MERCED >> It’s not just a bid for perfection in the regular season or supremacy in chasing a fourth straight conference football title that are serving as incentives for Monterey Peninsula College.

The opportunity to host a bowl game in three weeks may hinge on how the Lobos finish the regular season after clinching no worse than a share of their fourth straight American Golden Coast Conference title with a 63-0 win at Merced on Saturday.

MPC and De Anza of Cupertino are both 9-0 going into their conference finales next week, with the Lobos hosting rival Cabrillo next Saturday at 6 p.m.

“The only game circled on our calendar is Cabrillo,” MPC coach Ronnie Palmer said. “It’s a rivalry game for us. They have a running back that leads the state in rushing. It’s our sophomore night.”

Barring an upset, both the Lobos and De Anza, which rallied to beat Siskiyous Saturday, will end up undefeated and be ticketed to meet in the American Division Bowl. Where that will be is subject to a committee decision.

“I don’t know how they do the polls and numbers,” Palmer said. “I don’t get into it. We’ll play whoever it is. What I didn’t want to do is have an overnight game. I don’t think we can afford the play somewhere that requires an overnight stay.”

The reigning four-time American Golden Coast Conference champions Lobos are making case to host the event, having outscored their last two opponents 131-0 — scoring 195 points in their past three games.

“The focus turned to Cabrillo pretty quickly,” Palmer said. “We’ll show up and have a great game plan for our sophomores and try and end the season the right way.”

The Lobos, who came into their final road game against Merced fourth in the state scoring, used five touchdown passes from Eric Gibson to blow the game open in the first half.

Gibson, who threw for a college career-high four touchdowns in last week’s 68-0 win over Hartnell, tossed scoring passes to Marina graduate Julius Robinson, Salinas High product Zach Ball, Christian Nieves, Nakoa Villanueva and state leader Devin Ellison.

Ellison came into the game with 14 receiving touchdowns for the Lobos, who are ranked No. 24 in the latest JC Athletic Bureau poll and No. 3 in the American Division behind Pasadena City and De Anza.

“What was frustrating for me is people losing their cool and not staying focused in the second half,” Palmer said. “The rotations stay consistent. My emphasis is we’re trying to find ways to get better. The penalties started showing up. That’s a lack of maturity.”

As dynamic as the Lobos offense has been in their past three games, the defense has produced back-to-back shutouts. Prior to last week, MPC hadn’t blanked an opponent in five years.

“Some of it is timing,” Palmer said. “Catching these teams at the right time. Some of it is having a lot of spark and interest. It was fun to watch the energy of our team.”

The Lobos, who came into the game with 18 interceptions — three for returned for touchdowns, picked off three more passes with Jayden Freidt, Ameir Pickett and Glenn Beal Jr. all recording one.

“In certain phases, we’re playing as well as we have in my four years here,” Palmer said. “Our defense is playing well, especially in controlling the line of scrimmage and playing with technique. Our offense is balanced and playing at a high level. It’s not perfect.”

Kieryus Boone, who is second in the state in rushing, added two more rushing touchdowns to his resume for the Lobos, going over 1,100 rushing yards, while Monterey graduate Darius Garrard and Miekael Brooker both rushed for touchdowns.

“There is a level of confidence,” Palmer said. “Special teams have been very solid. We have two local DI kickers that can both kick it out of the end zone. Our guys are blocking on punts and kickoff returns. It’s a collective team effort from 47 kids.”

San Jose 56, Hartnell 14

Snapping a string of six quarters without a point is something to build off of after the Panthers dropped their third straight game to remain winless in conference play.

In its last two games, Hartnell has been outscored 124-14 in falling to 1-8 on the season.

Receiver Isaiah Duarte took a turn behind center and tossed touchdown passes to Alisal grad Damian Gonzalez and Elijiah Perkins for Hartnell, which closes the season on road at Coalinga.

Gonzalez put together his best game as a collegiate for the Panthers.

Gonzalez rushed for 90 yards in 26 carries, while turning four catches into 62 yards and a touchdown.

Duarte threw for 140 yards and rushed for 56 for Hartnell before suffering an injury in the fourth quarter. Christopher Phillips finished with nine tackles.

While Jacob Peinado collected seven tackles and a sack, and Khameron Perkins and Isais Morin had six tackles each.