Dunleavy Field is one of the more special venues in the Valley Oak League, but the Sonora Wildcats are never gracious hosts.
Things got off to a favorable start for Ripon Christian, but its good luck would not hold. The Knights could only watch as Mariposa High reeled off 51 unanswered points in a 51-8 Southern League defeat Friday at Ripon High. The Knights (0-2 SL, 0-5 overall) got on the board early in the first quarter when Isaac Norman scored from 7 yards out. The Knights' defensive unit was up for the challenge early, holding Mariposa ...
East Union thought it could win its season opener against Beyer at Modesto Junior College Sept. 3.
Mike James isn't buying the hype. Jeff Harbison is. James and his 4-0 East Union High Lancers will travel across town to face rival Sierra this Friday for a meaningful Valley Oak League contest. To James, the 2009 VOL co-champion Timberwolves, who are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, are not as bad as their 1-3 record indicates. All of Sierra's losses have come against quality teams - Enochs of Modesto, Granada of Livermore ...
After putting together a weak performance over the first two quarters of their Valley Oak League football opener, the Sierra Timberwolves sophomores fought back, only to make it interesting in a 40-22 loss to Oakdale High Friday at Sierra High.
MANTECA – Late in the second quarter Thursday Matt Wilkerson got a bit more than the 8 yards he needed for a first down when he lumbered 36 yards for a touchdown to give the Manteca freshmen the lead for good in a 22-8 Valley Oak League football victory over Kimball at Guss Schmiedt Field.
The beginning of the end started when the Oakdale Mustangs opened the second half at their own 10-yard line and methodically chewed up nearly the entire third quarter, marching 90 yards for an eventual A.C. Brown touchdown that stripped Sierra High of a chance at victory in a 33-15 defeat Friday at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.
Homecoming is often a time for celebration. East Union was certainly enjoying the good times following Friday's 31-0 Valley Oak League victory over Lathrop High. "Just to see the smiles on the faces of all 45 players is priceless," Lancer coach Mike James said as his team improved its mark to 4-0. East Union (1-0) had trouble getting started against the upstart Spartans (0-1, 2-2). "Lathrop did an outstanding job against us," James said. "You ...
The Manteca Buffaloes could not have drawn up a more perfect opening to the Valley Oak League season, blasting the Kimball Jaguars 62-0 in their first-ever VOL contest Friday at Kimball High.
RIPON - Hilmar High's grand return to the Trans Valley League wasn't so grand.
LE GRAND – Ripon Christian received a rude Southern League welcome from the host Le Grand Bulldogs on Friday.
Over the past decade, there has been one constant amongst the elite teams in the Valley Oak League and that's the fact that to become the champion, one usually has to beat the champion. In Friday's VOL opener for Sierra and Oakdale highs, that hurdle will be cleared immediately by the winning squad.
Oakdale and Sierra are the defending co-champions of the Valley Oak League. Manteca High is favored to win it this year based on a media poll conducted by the Bulletin. But Manteca head coach Eric Reis thinks Sonora is the team to beat. It comes down to home-field advantage, and his Buffaloes have had their troubles at Sonora's esteemed Dunlavy Field. That game takes place Oct. 15. "We have to play Sonora at Sonora, which ...
For two programs that struggled mightily throughout the 2009 season, that is not the case thus far this campaign. Lathrop High is enjoying back-to-back victories for the first time in school history and the East Union Lancers have not been 3-0 since Bill Clinton was president.
Graduation turnover along with some injuries to key players has suddenly made the always-competitive Trans Valley League race a wide-open one - for second place.