Blake Nichelson envisioned himself making that game-changing “dream play” on Friday while lugging Manteca to an unbelievable 40-34 overtime win over bitter rival East Union on homecoming night.

The Lancers had a dream scenario of their own, leading 27-7 at one point in the third quarter with a shocking upset victory in sight. They had the undefeated Buffaloes (2-0 Valley Oak League, 6-0 overall) figured out up until that point, but they ultimately had no answers for Nichelson on both sides of scrimmage.

In the end, it was it his 70-yard interception return on the second play of overtime that decided it.  

After Nichelson dropped East Union quarterback Luke Weaver (17 of 26, 210 yards, three TDs; 24 rushes, 81 yards) for a 6-yard loss and his fourth sack of the contest, the Division-I linebacker prospect thwarted a screen play intended for Dylan Lee (six receptions, 79 yards, two TDs) by tipping the pass near the line of scrimmage. The ball dropped into his hands with open field and a glorious end ahead. 

“I was just going straight to the quarterback and I was too far away to tackle him, so I just knew I had to jump for it,” Nichelson said. “I tipped it and was like, ‘Oh, I can actually take this back.’

“I was thinking about that play throughout the entire (comeback). That’s like a dream play right there. That is straight out of a dream.”

And he was a nightmare for the Lancers, who dropped to 1-2 in the Valley Oak League and 4-3 overall going into their bye week. Offensively, Nichelson rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries while making four catches for 85 yards and two more scores. It was his two-point conversion run with 59 seconds left that tied the score and forced overtime.

“Guys like that get looks for a reason,” East Union coach Mike Kuhnlenz said. “They do a great job personnel wise of getting the ball in his hands, and when he gets the ball in his hands he can make a guy miss and that’s it. You have to give credit where credit is due. He’s a great football player who will be playing on Saturdays.”

A 2006 Manteca High graduate, Kuhnlenz appeared to be on his way to a homecoming celebration along with other members of his staff who also played for the Buffaloes. Early in the fourth quarter, the defense came up with a big stop when sophomore lineman Sebastian Arrizano stopped Nichelson for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 on the Lancers’ 29-yard line.

East Union took over on downs and extend its lead to 34-20 two plays later. Running back David Flores (five rushes, 87 yards, two TDs) dashed 79 yards before getting chased down by Nichelson near the goal line but was not denied on the short-yardage rush with 10:37 remaining.

The Lancers got the ball back a minute later thanks to Kainoa Ontai’s interception near midfield but were unable to capitalize. East Union was forced to punt after a sack from Nichelson and a pre-snap penalty had it facing a fourth-and-34.

Manteca needed just two minutes to strike. Quarterback Hudson Wyatt swung a short pass to Nichelson for a 5-yard touchdown that capped the 76-yard drive with 3:43 to go.

East Union again failed to ice the win and punted. Manteca’s final drive in regulation started on its own 47 and ended with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt to Trey Moreland (six receptions, 102 yards), setting up Nichelson’s equalizer on the conversion.

“We ran that before in the game and saw they didn’t bite on it, so I knew it was going to be open,” Wyatt said. “I have trust in my teammates. I can throw the ball up and they’re going to go get it, I just know it. I’ve been preparing for these kinds of moments.”

It was Wyatt’s delayed debut as a Buffalo. The junior signal caller was ruled ineligible for Manteca’s first five games after transferring from Downey of Modesto. He only threw four passes in the first half but finished 12 of 23 for 205 yards and three touchdowns.

Manteca was able to open up its offense in the second half as Wyatt grew more comfortable. In the first half, the Buffaloes kept it on the ground but were outgained 211-94 on offensive yards while East Union ran 32 plays to their 17. The Lancers led 21-7 at halftime after Flores scored from 2 yards out as time expired.

In the end, East Union had 438 yards against Manteca’s 347. The Buffs widened their all-time series lead to 39-13-1 and have won 10 straight against their oldest cross-town rival.

“Champions overcome, bottom line,” Manteca coach Mark Varnum said. “We got a lot more out of that game than if it was the expected result. I take my hat off to those kids over there and Coach Kuhnlenz, they were ready to play us. Bottom line is we finished.”

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Kuhnlenz walked away from Guss Schmiedt Field far more encouraged than he did two weeks ago when his Lancers were obliterated 59-13 on Oakdale’s homecoming.

“These boys didn’t believe that the Oakdale game wasn’t a true representation of what this team can do,” he said. “We are super hard on our guys and we make them work, but they don’t shy away from it. They love it and tonight they brought it.

“This week in practice they were flying around. Obviously, they wanted this one just like any other one. This team isn’t going to back down from anybody.”