STOCKTON — The Manteca High Buffaloes continue to find ways to win.

In Friday’s Valley Oak League game at Weston Ranch, they pounded the ball inside before unleashing their passing attack.

Manteca (2-0 in league, 5-0 overall) came away with a 29-0 victory.

“(The Cougars) played us tough,” said Buffaloes coach Eric Reis, who once again faced his former player in Weston Ranch coach Seth Davis.

Davis praised Manteca, saying: “That’s a disciplined team, a smart football team.”

Weston Ranch (0-2, 3-2) fell into an early hole when Buffaloes defensive back Damon Lynch picked off a pass and sprinted for the 47-yard score on just the third play of the game.

“That pick ‘6’ made a difference,” Davis said. “It gave Manteca some momentum, which is huge in high school football.”

The Cougar defense held its own, coming up big behind Benn Cinque on a fourth down play in the first half.

The Buffaloes strung together a drive early in the second quarter, relying on the inside running of Kameron Beamon coupled with Weston Ranch penalties.

Both teams combined for nearly 100 yards in penalties in just the first half alone.

Beamon, who was helped out by a crunching block delivered by Mario Gonzalez, took the ball to the Cougars 1, setting up Dakarai Charles’ 1-yard TD in the second quarter.

Ahead 15-0 at the half, the Buffaloes went with a change of pace, turning to their passing attack in the second half.

Sophomore quarterback Gino Campiotti gave the Weston Ranch defensive backfield fits.

He showed touch by hitting Lynch in stride for a 33-yard gain to the Cougars 5.

James Thomas scored from the 2 to help make it a 21-0 affair.

In the fourth, Manteca’s Michael Sarmento recovered a fumble.  Campiotti cashed in on the turnover by connecting to Jose Garcia, who came up with the ball in the end zone despite the good pass coverage.

Weston Ranch had a scoring chance, advancing the ball to inside the Manteca 5 only to be denied.

 The goal-line stand by the Buffaloes also preserved the shutout.

Manteca, which blanked Kimball last week, now has three shutout victories for the season.

Next up for the Buffaloes is Sierra High.



To contact reporter Vince Rembulat emailvrembulat@bulletin.com.