Different year. Different venue. Different athletes.
Coach Mark Varnum and the rest of the Manteca Buffaloes are hoping for different results Friday when they host Stockton powerhouse St. Mary’s for a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II semifinal.
The last time these San Joaquin County giants locked up was two years ago — twice, and both at St. Mary’s Sanguinetti Field. Neither game was competitive, as the Rams rolled 44-7 in non-league play and again 41-12 in the D-II semifinals before losing championship game to Rocklin.
Roles are reversed this time around, with Manteca (11-0) holding the No. 1 seed. The Buffaloes took care of No. 8 Tracy last week 43-8, while No. 4 St. Mary’s surged past No. 5 Jesuit 64-55 in a wild second-half comeback.
“That was important for us to get the home seed and get to play in the lovely confines of Guss Schmiedt,” Varnum said. “We gotta defend the home turf.
“Athletically, I think we’re a lot different than a couple years ago, especially on the back end (of the defense). We have guys who can make plays. They’re a very talented team, but the way our skill guys are playing, I think we can match up with them.”
Both teams have returning stars who played in those 2023 contests. UCLA-committed receiver Kenneth Moore III is among them.
The speedster has scored 17 touchdowns and in different ways — nine receiving, five rushing, two on kickoff returns and
one on a punt return. Ivan Huerta (52 catches, 866 yards, 10 touchdowns) is the leading receiver for quarterback Jaden Galvan (2,123 yards, 25 TDs, six interceptions). Carter Williams (18-319-3), a 6-foot-3 junior, is another weapon in the passing game with NCAA Division I offers.
Diego Hernandez (885 yards, 6.6 per carry, 20 TDs) spearheads the Rams’ running game. Brodie Lundgren, a 6-5, 295-pound tackle, leads the offensive line.
Manteca’s defense had a streak of three second-half shutouts snapped last week but has been lights-out all season. The Buffaloes are allowing just 12.2 points per game with playmakers at every level. Cornerback Jayden Harris has grabbed a section-leading eight interceptions.
Last week, Manteca held Tracy to season-lows in scoring and offensive yards.
“Just another dominant effort by the defense,” Varnum said. “St. Mary’s is a different animal, but the ‘D’ has balled out all year, and we’re hoping to ride them all the way.”
His offense has been just as good, posting 40-plus points in nine games. The Buffaloes have a standout receiver of their own in Quinn Martinez (51 receptions, 720 yards, 12 TDs), who is sitting on 26 offers.
Jaylin Harris (21-341-4), the twin brother of Jayden, has emerged as another big-play threat for senior QB Owen Gully (1,557 yards, 27 TDs, two INTs).
Third-year junior Nikko Juarez (1,652 yards, 10.8 per carry, 24 TDs) is having another productive season alongside backfield mate Maava Tialavea (319 yards, eight TDs).
St. Mary’s defense is anchored by 6-2, 230-pounders Jake (63 tackles, 19 for losses, 6.0 sacks) and Luke Lucatello (44 tackles, 16 for losses, 10 sacks) and 6-2, 215-pound linebacker Landon McClendon (55 tackles, 7.0 sacks, four forced fumbles).
A nine-time section champion, Manteca last appeared in the title round when it won the D-II crown in 2022.
The winner squares off with No. 2 Granite Bay (8-3) or No. 6 Rocklin (6-5) in the Division II final on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Sacramento City College’s Hughes Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
