Manteca scored in just about every way possible Friday night, lacking just a safety and an interception return for a touchdown in a 65-14 thumping of host Sierra in Valley Oak League football action at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

“We set an extremely high standard for ourselves,” Buffaloes coach Mark Varnum said. “Every Friday night, we try and meet that standard. Even though we put up 65 points, we still have people not satisfied with how they played. That’s what champions do, they are never satisfied.”

Nikko Juarez’s ability as a running back for Manteca (3-1 VOL, 5-3 overall) is well known, but Friday night he tried his hand at defense and did not disappoint. He lit up the field with touchdown runs of 2, 60 and 74 yards on his only carries and posted eight tackles, one of which was for a 15-yard loss and the other stopped Sierra from converting on fourth-and-short.

“It was exciting,” Juarez said. “I never once thought that I would come out to practice every day and be excited to play defense. I was always just an offensive guy.

“Playing defense has sparked something different in me. I love it and I try go out as much as I can on defense. This is my first time ever playing defense, and it’s pretty cool.”

Jayden Harris notched three touchdowns as well for the Buffaloes – one on a 79-yard punt return, another on a 13-yard run and the third on an 8-yard pass from Brody Carabello (8 of 9 passing, 108 yards). Carabello added an 11-yard scramble for a score.

“I was just trying to find the end zone,” Harris said. “Last week, we got our stuff pushed in (42-13 loss to Central Catholic), so I just try to come out and show coach I am ready to make this playoff run.”

Jovani Avalos anchored the offensive line for the Buffaloes from his right tackle position.

“We worked hard all week to make sure that would dominate up front,” Avalos said. “And that’s what we did.

“We did our jobs and we executed and that’s what we pride ourselves on.”

Manteca’s Eli Navarro kicked a 39-ard field goal and the Buffaloes book ended the scoring, starting the night when Deangelo Riego returned the opening kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown and in the closing minutes Brandon Maravilla forced a fumble and teammate William Allison scooped it up and rambled 20 yards for the game’s last touchdown.

Brixten Menchaca added four tackles for the Buffaloes with three apiece for Gabe Strickland and Juju Ramirez.

The Timberwolves (1-2, 4-3) got their two scores on an 11-yard pass from Jaysen Martinez (15 of 23 passing, 181 yards) to Blama Kamara which tied the game at 7-7 and on a 4-yard burst by Venn Piedad (22 carries, 36 yards)

“This was a hard one, because we did play really good, at times,” Sierra coach Ryan Teicheira said. “They are a good, smash-mouth football team. They have talent throughout their lineup, and you can’t miss opportunities against a team like this.

“We just challenged the kids to go out and fight tonight. Despite the score, this was a step in the right direction for us as an offense. We have things we have to clean up and fix, but that’s a good football team over there, so there is nothing to hang our heads about.”

On Friday night at 7 the Timberwolves host East Union and Manteca hosts Oakdale.