With only one returning starter, Manteca's senior class is eager to finally prove itself at the varsity level.
“They've been chomping at the bit, waiting for their opportunity,” Manteca coach Mark Varnum said. “And this year they've had to wait a little bit longer.”
Last year, the Buffaloes (11-3) were loaded with senior-heavy talent that propelled them to a share of the Valley Oak League title and Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship.
Among those waiting their turn was Krys Charles, though for him it was an injury that sidelined him for the entire season. He quarterbacked the JV squad to a 10-0 finish in 2018 and was expected to contribute on both sides of scrimmage as receiver and corner back for his junior season, but he broke a hand in practice just days leading up to the zero-week opener.
This year, the coronavirus pandemic threatened to wipe out the football season entirely.
“It was tough for me,” he said. “I didn't know if we were going to play or not, but I just kept my head up and kept grinding because you never know. Now, we're here.”
And he's back behind center, drawing comparisons to older brother Dakarai Charles who starred for the Buffs varsity as quarterback in 2015 and 16. At 5-foot-8, the shifty Krys brings an entirely different skill set as his predecessors, most recently the cannon-armed Ryan Ward who now pitches for the Sacramento State baseball team. Ward threw for 2,155 yards, 32 touchdowns and seven interceptions and was named All-Valley Oak League Offensive Player of the year.
“The nice part about our offense is that's it's flexible enough to adapt to our personnel,” Varnum said. “Obviously, what Krys brings with his athleticism and what he can do with his feet gives us a whole other facet to what we can do offensively. It's a little bit different than what we've had the past couple of years, but it will be fun to watch.”
Do-it-all standout Jacob De Jesus and running back Trabron Russell are other big producers Manteca must replace. Both were three-year varsity starters, and De Jesus was league MVP as a senior.
Lower-level products such as junior Khalid Robinson and sophomore Alijah Cota will get their shot out of the backfield, but Varnum said there are “some nice surprises and some nice additions” at all skill positions.
Lyon Colon and Blake Nichelsen transferred from Central Catholic, while Trey Moreland arrives from Modesto Christian.
“Lyon Colon is as advertised,” Varnum said. “Blake Nichelsen has a D1 body already and the sky is the limit with that kid. Blake and Cota are going to be two-way starters as sophomores, and that doesn't happen to often at Manteca. We're very excited about them not just for this year but the next couple years.”
The lone returning starter is David Vega, who is the All-VOL second-team center. Fellow seniors Mark Rodriguez and Josh Saylor will carry a heavier load for the offensive line. Justin Beglau and 6-2, 290-pound sophomore right tackle Dylan Gulseth round out the projected starting five up front.
“We have great weapons, but it starts up front at Manteca and it always has,” Varnum said.
Senior defensive backs Domenic Favaloro and Malik Nov are among the leaders on the other side of the ball.
Manteca is not treating this pandemic-shortened season any differently than any other. The schedule consists of five games with no playoffs.
“Just go out for every play like it's our last snap,” Charles said. “We're going to make the most of what we can in those five games.”
The Buffaloes begin at Kimball next Friday and welcomes reigning California Interscholastic Federation Division IV-AA state champion Ripon on March 26. They'll finish with rivals Sierra (Thursday, April 1), Oakdale (Friday, April 9) and East Union (Saturday, April 17).
“They're just not happy to be here and not happy to be able to play,” Varnum said. “They want to perform and ball out. This is their chance to leave their legacy for Manteca football, and it doesn't matter if it's 15 games, five games or one game.”
