East Union, Ripon, Ripon Christian and River Islands have had to do homework on their first-round opponents in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

Manteca knows what it’s getting into.

Nikko Juarez and the rest of the Buffaloes are getting a rematch two years in the making tonight when Rocklin visits Guss Schmiedt Field. The Thunder are actually the No. 2 seed in the stacked Division II bracket but is prohibited from hosting playoff games this season because of sanctions relating to use of ineligible players in an offseason passing league.

These traditional powers tangled three consecutive years starting in 2022, when Manteca held on for a 34-28 home win in the semifinals en route to capturing its ninth overall section title.

Rocklin avenged the loss in 2023, dominating 35-14 during the NorCal Honor Bowl showcase event in El Dorado Hills. Juarez was called up to the varsity team as a freshman the following week to strengthen the stable of running backs.

In 2024, Juarez led Manteca’s offense with 82 rushing yards against the then-top-seeded Thunder in a lopsided 30-7 semifinal defeat.

They nearly met again last year, but both lost close games in the semifinals.

While Manteca and Rocklin get reacquainted, River Islands ventures into uncharted territory as a first-time qualifier in its third varsity season. The Riptide are seeded fifth in Division VII and heads to Denair to face the Southern League champion for the first time.

In Division VI action, Ripon Christian welcomes Center of Antelope in the first meeting between the two programs. Next door, third-seeded Ripon hosts Colfax in their first showdown in at least 25 years.

East Union also takes on an unfamiliar foe, as it heads to No. 2 Yuba City for a Division IV opener.

Here’s a closer look at the first-round match-ups:

DIVISION II

No. 2 Rocklin (6-4) at No. 7 Manteca (7-3)

The Thunder started the season hot, blowing out Turlock, Bishop Manogue of Nevada and Pleasant Valley before its near-upset of Folsom in their Sierra Foothill League opener. Folsom, the top seed in Division I, eked out the 29-23 win in double overtime.

Their next losses were to Division I second seed Oak Ridge, D-I snub Monterey Trail and D-II top seed Del Oro.

In contrast, Manteca started 0-2 for the first time in 30 years but has been mostly dominant since, knocking off two league champions, Chavez and Chico, in dominant fashion while finishing second in the competitive Valley Oak League.

Six-foot-5 junior quarterback Parker Lively (2,245 yards, 18 touchdowns, 10 interceptions), who has an offer from Wake Forest, conducts the pistol offense that also features 6-3 receiver Rhys Mays (39 catches, 536 yards, five TDs), Ryder Halbert (25-577-2) and 5-9, 190-pound running back Luke May (844 yards, 5.3 per carry, 13 TDs).

They’re anchored by big-bodied blockers such as 6-4, 285-pound left tackle Jonathan Anderson and 6-2, 225-pound H-back Cole Rogers.

Linebacker Damien Panteloglow (77 tackles), defensive end Aidan Jepson (44 tackles, 7.5 for losses, 5.5 sacks) and defensive back Donovan Southward (three INTs) leads an experienced and senior-heavy defense.

DIVISION IV

No. 7 East Union (5-5) at No. 2 Yuba City (8-2)

The Lancers’ path to a second straight final-round appearance starts with a major roadblock in Yuba City.

The Honkers have blown out most of their opponents and outlasted Foothill Valley League foe Placer, 35-19 — Placer raced away from EU 47-28 during its 6-0 start to the season. Their losses were each decided by a point and came at the hands of two top-seeded squads, Destiny Christian Academy (Division III) and FVL champ Twelve Bridges (D-IV).

Yuba City is massive in the trenches with the likes of 6-6, 305-pound Gilbert Elicea, 6-2, 255-pound Ajai Sohal and 6-2, 295-pound defensive tackle Uly Huizar (34 tackles, 8.0 for losses, sack).

Linebacker Zeke Mendieta (106 tackles, 12.0 for losses), 6-2, 220-pound defensive end Dom Ramirez (43 tackles, 18.0 for losses, 7.0 sacks) and linebacker Devaan Khagura (69 tackles, 10.0 for losses) spearhead a ball-hawking defense that has forced 19 turnovers and gives up 10 points per game.

The multi-formation attack has many of its top players from 2025, including QB Judah Allen (1,437 yards, 13 TDs, five TDs), running backs Cody Haase (1,044 yards, 10.9 per carry, 21 TDs) and Hank Watson (433 yards, 9.4 per carry, nine TDs) and junior receivers Dante Lepe (26 catches, 411 yards, four TDs) and Juju Brown (24-290-4).

DIVISION VI

No. 6 Colfax (5-5) at No. 3 Ripon (5-5)

Injury-plagued Ripon survived a challenging regular season but is entering the playoffs riding a three-game winning streak. It was awarded the No. 3 seed after fending off rival Ripon Christian 38-28 in a Trans Valley League finale.

Up next is a battle between fourth-place teams.

Colfax went 2-4 in the Pioneer Valley League, which makes up half of the D-VI bracket. Champion Lincoln is seeded No. 2, and runner-up Center is No. 5. The Falcons lost to both in the past two weeks but were competitive against Center, 24-21.

Ripon will have its hands full with a balanced attack starring Graeson Howard (1,778 yards, 9.0 per carry, 21 TDs), who is the second leading rusher in the section. He’s also a threat in the passing game (16 catches, 269 yards).

Brady Stowers (57 receptions, 703 yards, five TDs) is the top target for junior QB Adam Amatangelo (1,574 yards, seven TDs, 10 INTs).

Safety Henry Rollins (86 tackles, 13 for losses), 6-4, 210-pound defensive end Roman Mikitiuk (74 tackles, 16 for losses, 1.5 sacks) and middle linebacker Declan McNally (57 tackles, 10 for losses) lead the defense.

No. 5 Center (9-1) at No. 4 Ripon Christian (5-5)

Like its neighbors, the Knights have endured their share of injuries throughout the season.

With their top two tailbacks and starting flyback out, they still managed to have one of their best outings offensively in the loss to Ripon last week.

With their depth tested, the hope is for it to pay off against a battle-hardened Cougars team that is 3-1 in PVL games decided by three or less points. The lone defeat was to Lincoln, 35-34, in a Week 8 clash for the championship.

Dual-threat signal caller Sincere Howard leads Center’s balanced spread offense. Lineman Christian Barker (6-3, 275) helps pave the way for running back Victor Brito. The Cougars are have an experienced receiving corps that includes seniors Mateo D’Arcy, Wisdom Howard, Christopher Maokhamphiou and Zion Vann.

DIVISION VII

No. 5 River Islands (8-2) at No. 4 Denair (9-1)

Old school meets new in this battle of contrasting styles.

River Islands brings its aerial attack led by senior QB Daryl Carpenter, the second-leading passer in the SJS. Denair counters with a run-heavy attack led by three rushers with 600-plus yards apiece. It’s a formula that has produced success while under 12th-year coach Anthony Armas, who led the Coyotes to a state championship in 2018.

Although River Islands has the fourth-highest rating in the division, it is Denair hosting the first-round contest as the No. 4 seed. The Coyotes are reigning Southern League champion and winners of seven straight after a 28-20 loss to 3-7 Amador.

Third-year QB Derek Potter (749 yards, 11 TDs, INT) calls the shots for the offense, which features the backfield trio of Connor Hart (1,028 yards, 7.7 per carry, 13 TDs), Noah Chavez (690 yards, 8.4 per carry, seven TDs) and John Wilmoth (626 yards, 11.6 per carry, nine TDs). Wilmoth is also a threat in the passing game (five receptions, 164 yards, four TDs), but 6-2 wide out Harlan Brown (16-402-5) gets the bulk of the targets.

Hart also stars defensively (84 tackles, 4.0 sacks, two INTs) at linebacker.