East Union, Ripon and Weston Ranch each garnered their first victory of 2014 last week, but backing it up with another won’t be easy as all three hit the road this Friday to meet opponents with winning records.

Meanwhile, Ripon Christian plays its first home game at Ripon High’s Stouffer Field, where it takes on Merced’s Stone Ridge Christian in a battle of 2-0 teams. Manteca (3-0), Sierra (3-0) and Lathrop (1-2) are idle as they prepare for their Valley Oak League openers.

East Union (1-1) would like to build off its demonstrative 60-19 victory over Johansen. On Friday the Lancers take on a third opponent from the Modesto Metro Conference. Gregori (2-1), which averages 44.7 points, should be a good test for East Union’s defense, which has yet to give up any second-half points through two games. The offense gave up a late safety in a 16-6 zero-week loss to undefeated Grace Davis.

Gregori’s offense centers around 6-foot-1, 190-pound running back Demetrius Vinson, one of the region’s most dynamic juniors. Vinson earned a No. 1 SPARQ rating for class of 2016 RBs in a Nike Combine last May.

He has backed it up with sterling efforts so far, leading the team in touchdowns scored (eight), rushing yards (431) and receiving yards (130). Vinson opened the year with a 220-yard, three-touchdown effort in a 40-36 loss to Chavez. Gregori smashed first-year El Capitan 54-20 last week with Vinson (eight rushes, 88 yards, TD) playing sparingly.

While East Union is hopes to lock up Gregori’s running game, Weston Ranch (1-1) will try and slow down Grace Davis’ air attack.

The resurgent Spartans are on a roll under head coach Tim Garcia, who has led the team to its first 3-0 start since 2003. Returning standout QB Zach Magana has two big targets in 6-5 Talolo Limu-Jones and 6-1, 182-pound Tala Toilolo, who each amassed more than 100 yards receiving while combing for three TDs in last week’s impressive 27-26 win at Los Banos.

Ripon (1-2) has the toughest assignment of all having to square off with Sonora (2-1) at Dunlavy Field.

It’s an interesting matchup between two tradition-rich schools. Ripon, 30-6 in the past three years, and its hybrid wing-T/spread was firing on all cylinders in last week’s 45-25 win at Lathrop. The victory followed devastating losses to Sierra and Patterson.

Sonora is eyeing its first postseason appearance in three years and appears to have its triple-option offense in gear. The Wildcats have four rushers with at least 100 yards, and though they don’t throw much they do have a dangerous receiver in 6-5 Kahale Warring.

Ripon Christian takes on a familiar foe in Stone Ridge Christian, which lost to the Knights 50-20 in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI playoffs last year. Ripon Christian is 3-1 all-time against Stone Ridge, which shares the same mascot.

Stone Ridge has blown out two other small-school opponents, Woodland Christian and Delta, and did so behind a power running game spearheaded by Bailey Dahlhoff (361 yards, 6 TDs).



Paule leaving his Mark

Sierra running back Mark Paule Jr. is among the state’s most prolific rushers, according to MaxPreps.com. He currently ranks sixth in California with 660 yards and is the leading touchdown scorer with 16.

The 5-7, 150-pound junior has rushed for no less than 202 yards in each of Sierra’s three games and already has tied a single-game TD record with seven.



NorCal Bowl rankings

Speaking of the Timberwolves, their three one-sided wins have caught the attention of CalHiSports.com, which updates its CIF Northern and Southern California Bowl rankings weekly.

Sierra joins Manteca on the Division II North list, entering in the 10th spot. Manteca remains at No. 7. Ranked ahead of the Buffaloes in order are: Clayton Valley (Concord), Los Gatos, Concord, Sacramento, Oakdale and Enterprise (Redding).



Friday Night Lights, take 2

Anyone who has purchased tickets through Ticket Master for Manteca’s Aug. 29 game against Wilcox are encouraged to return them to the high school for refunds and new tickets for the Saturday, Oct. 11 contest with VOL foe Oakdale.

The Levi’s Stadium Friday Night Lights event was a much-anticipated season opener for the Buffaloes, but it was called off due to safety issues with the new turf. The San Francisco 49ers, who call the brand-new facility home in Santa Clara, are now hosting the same event Oct. 10 and 11.

Ticket sales and exchanges are available at the MHS administration office Monday through Friday from 2-4 p.m. until Oct. 7. For more information, contact Athletic Director Davis Smith at 209.858.7347.