Three Manteca Unified programs are hosting opponents from outside the Sac-Joaquin Section this week.
On Friday, Windsor travels from Sonoma County to take on East Union, while Mt. Diablo makes the trek from Contra Costa County to Lathrop. Sierra is pitted against another Contra Costa school in Acalanes, which visits Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
There will be great interest in the game at Dino Cunial Field, as first-year East Union coach Mike Kuhnlenz matches wits with a NorCal legend in Paul Cronin. Friday marks Cronin’s first game as Windsor coach after spending the last 18 at nearby Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa, which won its 13th North Coast Section title (sixth under Cronin) in 2019 as well as the Division III-AA state championship. Cronin logged more than 200 wins during his time at Cardinal Newman.
“We’re going to be put to the test, for sure,” Kuhnlenz said. His team is coming off a 41-26 win over 2019 Division IV-AA state champ Ripon. “It will be a good measuring stick to see how we match up with this team. This is going to be up there with a Manteca, Central Catholic and an Oakdale type of team. It’ll be good to be tested before seeing those teams in the (Valley Oak League).”
Windsor went 2-3 in the spring, but two were against Cardinal Newman and the other against Marin Catholic, another parochial power out of the NCS. The Jaguars tallied a notable 28-23 win over Rancho Cotate, which defeated Sierra for the NorCal Regional Division III-A championship in 2019. Windsor, Cardinal Newman and Rancho Cotate all compete in the North Bay League Oak Division.
Cronin has a chance to set the foundation of another dynasty while at Windsor, which claimed the NCS Division II crown with a perfect 14-0 record 10 years ago. The Jags return many of their top players from the shortened spring season, including RB/LB Daniel Escarsega, QB Chase Vehmeyer and WR Makhi Johnson.
“We think they’re a 3-4 team defensively and a spread team offensively, that’s kind of what we prepared for, but we’ll make the adjustments on the fly,” Kuhnlenz said. “It’s going to be exciting to see what they come out in. We’ll take it play by play.”
Lathrop and Sierra are also going to familiarize themselves with their opponents on the fly.
Mt. Diablo, headed by third-year coach Donald James, kicks off its 2021 season at Lathrop following a 4-0 spring. It’s a drastic improvement from previous seasons in which the program out of Concord struggled with low numbers. The Red Devils totaled just 11 wins in the 10 years leading up to the pandemic-shortened season. Lathrop dropped its opener last week 25-14 at Tokay after leading 14-0 at halftime.
Sierra faces a more-established Acalanes squad that went 5-1 in the spring and produced nine-win seasons in 2017 and 2019 under sixth-year coach Floyd Burnsed. The Dons begin their campaign on Saturday, while the Timberwolves look to bounce back from their 49-0 defeat at Hughson.
Here’s a look at other Week 1 contests:
Patterson (0-1) at Manteca (1-0): The Buffs’ pre-league schedule is expected to be more challenging every week after drubbing Downey, 46-14.
Patterson hopes to get untracked after its comeback fell short against visiting Hilmar, 27-20. The Tigers trailed 27-7 in the fourth quarter before scoring two unanswered touchdowns. Patterson lost despite outgaining the Yellowjackets 358-265 in offensive yardage and was done in by penalties and turnovers.
The Tigers did well to limit Hilmar’s running game to 85 yards (3.1 per carry). Manteca rung up 368 of its 403 yards on the ground last week.
Ripon (0-1) at Sonora (0-1): These two tangle for a seventh straight season with Sonora winning four of the previous six matchups. Ripon won the last two in blowouts.
Both teams are coming off losses to VOL teams. Sonora was thumped by longtime rival Oakdale, 37-6. Seniors Kenny Scott and Bradley Curnow took turns at quarterback for the Wildcats.
Ripon started strong in its opener against East Union but ultimately fell 41-26 as injuries to players at the skill positions took their toll.
Mountain House (0-1) at Weston Ranch (0-1): The Cougars get to host their first game in nearly two years tonight, as they aim to erase the taste of their 28-0 defeat to Grace Davis. Weston Ranch was held to less than 100 yards of offense.
Mountain House lost to Chavez 26-12, but the Mustangs’ defense stiffened after giving up 19 points in the first quarter. Sophomore quarterback Amare Brooks accounted for much of the Mountain House offense, passing for 76 yards while running for 101.
Weston Ranch and Mountain House each have just two wins in the last two years.
Sacramento (1-0) at Ripon Christian (1-0): With original Week 1 opponent East Nicolaus backing out because of COVID-19 concerns on its campus, the Knights picked up a tough fill-in opponent.
The Dragons, who compete in Division III for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs (RC is in Divisions V or VI), have had low turnout in recent years but that doesn’t mean they’re short on talent. Their 25-man roster consists of just 10 seniors, and they beat Stagg at home last week 28-21 behind a balanced attack (177 passing yards, 174 rushing).
Ripon Christian handed Galt its 10th straight defeat, 21-12.
