Past meets present tonight as Manteca’s newest high school takes on the city of Tracy’s oldest.

Sierra visits Tracy High to kick off the 2013 season. The Timberwolves are the first opponent to play on Tracy’s brand-new stadium named after its winningest football coach, Wayne Schneider. There will be a rededication ceremony between the sophomore and varsity contests as well as a fireworks show at halftime.

The school originally named its stadium in Schneider’s honor in 2009. Prior to that, Tracy’s football facility was better known as Peter B. Kyne Field.

Schneider led Tracy’s football program for 26 years starting in 1965, compiling a 224-59-4 record that continues to stand among the Sac-Joaquin Section’s best.

Tracy was arguably one of Northern California’s top teams in the 1980s under Schneider. The Bulldogs were one of just three NorCal teams (De La Salle, St. Francis) to win at least 100 games in the decade and was the only public school to achieve the feat. They captured SJS championships in 1982 and 87 and reached six semifinals despite having one of the smallest enrollments among Division-I schools.

Schneider earned Coach of the Year honors at the league, Northern California and state levels during his career. Following retirement, he was inducted into the Tracy Sports, California Coaches, National High School Athletic Coaches and SJS halls of fame. He is one of the founders of the Lions All-Star Football Classic, one of the state’s oldest all-star games that enters its 41st year.