Manteca High is celebrating its 100th year of football.

The nine-time Sac-Joaquin Section champion Buffaloes are kicking off the milestone season Aug. 14 with their annual intrasquad scrimmage starting at 4 p.m.

Later that night, beginning at 6, is a 21-and-over alumni event put on by 1991 graduate Chris Teicheira at his Deaf Puppy Club on 1030 W. Yosemite Avenue. No tickets are required to enter the festivity, which includes a no-host dinner, no-host bar and silent auction. Merchandise commemorating the 100th football season at Manteca will also be on available for sale.

The preseason continues for the Buffaloes on Aug. 21 at Monterey Trail in Elk Grove, where they make their yearly visit for a head-to-head scrimmage.

Year 100 officially starts Aug. 28 in Mountain View against powerhouse Saint Francis.

Manteca’s first regular-season game at Guss Schmiedt Field is two weeks later on Sept. 11 against Chavez. The home opener doubles as another celebration of the program’s 100th year, and legendary Buffaloes of years past will be commemorated.

Manteca’s first-ever football scrimmage took place Oct. 15, 1926. “The Green and White football team,” as described by a Manteca Bulletin report on on Oct. 21, 1926, lost to Sonora, 13-0.

“The Thunder Herd of Manteca High School” prevailed when it counted one week later, however, blanking Hilmar 13-0 in what was reported to be the “first CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) league game played in this section.”

Manteca was then part of the Northern Section.

On Nov. 27 of that inaugural season, Manteca lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to Ceres in a rain-drenched section championship game. Standout captain Eddie Forsell completed a pass to Louis Bianchi in the second quarter for the Buffaloes’ lone touchdown, but the extra-point kick was missed.

Home football games were played at Pennebaker Field on the southwestern end of campus where the new gym is located. Guss Schmiedt Field opened in 1959 and is closing in on its 70th year.