Two offensive plays, two touchdowns – and the rout was on.

Manteca totaled four first quarter touchdowns, outgaining visiting Downey 269-63 in the opening stanza on the way to a 46-14 shellacking in non-league

Guss Schmiedt Field.

The last time these two teams met was in 2019 and the Knights stole a 54-18 overtime home win, leaving a bitter taste in the Buffaloes’ mouths.

“That game two years ago has been one my mind ever since we walked off the field that night,” Buffaloes coach Mark Varnum said. “Even though we won the section championship that year, that game stuck in my mind and coach (Rick) James’ mind. We righted some serious wrongs tonight. It was an absolute boat race and an absolute blowout.

“The fact that we held an offense like that to 14 points shows the work that coach James put in and the belief he has in them. I hope Downey enjoyed the trip back to Modesto.”

Downey (0-1) deferred to the second half to start the game, and that decision appeared to be a good one when the opening kick resulted in a touchback, giving Manteca (1-0) the ball on its 20.

Enter Lyon Colon (22 carries, 165 yards, two touchdowns). The Manteca senior took the ball around left end on the game’s first play and raced 80 yards for a quick 8-0 lead.

“It feels good being back on the field,” Colon said. “Last season we only had five games so it felt nice being out here with my brothers.”

Things did not get any better for the Knights. After going three and out on the ensuing position, the snap to the punter sailed high, coming to rest on the 2-yard line. The Buffaloes’ Blake Nichelson (nine carries, 146 yards, three touchdowns) took full advantage of that gift, bulling the ball in on the next play for a 16-0 Manteca lead just 1 minute and 2 seconds into the game.

Nichelson added touchdown runs of 54 and 58 yards, both in the first quarter.

“I just have kind of a ‘go’ mentality,” Nichelsen said. “If I can’t get outside of them I am going to go through them.

“This was a great way to start off the season.”

Thrust into the starting quarterback position as a sophomore, Garrison Reis performed admirably, directing the offense with near perfection.

“Manteca is always about the next person up,” Reis said. “Whatever the team needs, I will be there. It could be quarterback or it could be tight end, whatever it is I can be next up.

“We have a lot of weapons and hopefully it is all up from here.”

Colon added a 3-yard touchdown run and teammate Alijah Cota scored from 5 yards out.

Trey Moreland made an interception for the Buffaloes and teammate Tommy Perea recovered a fumble.

Downey got into the end zone with three seconds left in the first half on a 30-yard pass from Conner Stoddard to Derrick Kirkendall to make the halftime score 40-8. Kirkendall scored with 9:30 remaining in the running-clock fourth quarter, making the score 46-14.

SCORING SUMMARY

Downey 0  8  0  6 – 14

Manteca 32 8 6  0 – 46

First quarter

M — Lyon Colon 80 run (Blake Nichelson run), 11:47

M — Nichelson 2 run (Nichelson run), 10:58

M — Nichelson 58 run (Colon run), 6:20

M — Nichelson 54 run (Colon run), 2:21

Second quarter

M — Colon 3 run (Nichelson run), 5:58

D — Gavin Garcia 30 pass from Conner Stoddard (Derrick Kirkendall run), :03

Third quarter

M — Cota 5 run (run fail), 6:38

Fourth quarter

D — Kirkendall 2 run (run fail), 9:30