Manteca Councilman John Harris believes the 2013 varsity football team is the best Manteca High has ever fielded.

Harris made his comments after the council recognized the Manteca High Buffaloes for not just winning the Valley Oak League and Sac Joaquin Section championship but also making it to the Northern California title game.

Harris has been following football since his high school days in the 1950s.

He brought a mini Manteca High helmet to Tuesday’s council meeting and placed it on the dais. It was autographed by former Manteca High football legend Paul Wiggin who went on to play and coach at Stanford University and then onto a NFL coaching career.

Harris noted the biggest difference since 1958 is the size of the players.

“Back then linemen topped out at 178 pounds,” Harris noted

It’s common today for high school linemen to tip the scales at 250 pounds.