It’s a simple formula for East Union and Ripon this Friday — win, and you’re in.
Both are sitting on the postseason bubble with three wins apiece, and they’re facing formidable opponents for their Week-10 contests.
East Union hosts Kimball in a do-or-die duel for both squads, while injury-ravaged Ripon welcomes state champion Hughson.
Sierra closes with Valley Oak League champion Central Catholic but is likely in regardless of the result because of its favorable rating boosted by strength of schedule and fourth win earned last week in a 34-31 nail-biter at East Union.
Manteca and Lathrop are advancing even after dropping road games with title implications last week. Manteca remains as the fourth seed in the MaxPreps’ Division II projections following its 39-35 heartbreaker at Central Catholic.
Lathrop has a solid hold on the No. 8 seed in Division V despite its 37-20 Western Athletic Conference defeat at Los Banos. The Spartans, positioned to reach the playoffs for just the second time in program history, cap the regular season with Old River Rivalry foe Mountain House.
Ripon Christian is the only team in the area to have a league crown shored up. The Knights are locked in as the top seed in Division VII-A and play their final game in the Southern Athletic League against 2-6 Delhi.
Here’s a closer look at the Week 10 matchups:
Kimball (1-3, 3-6) at East Union (0-4, 3-6): Third-year EU coach Mike Kuhnlenz seeks his first win against the team he previously headed, and this would be a good time to get it.
The Lancers, losers of five straight, are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time in five years and must get past a squad they have not beaten since 2017.
They may have a quarterback conundrum brewing after Anthony Morales replaced sophomore Kirk Simoni late in the Sierra game and performed well (8 of 13 passing, 118 yards, two TDs) in the comeback attempt.
Kimball is a better team than its record, proven by its 21-14 loss to Oakdale last week. The Jaguars are also in flux at the quarterback position, with sophomores Richard Sandoval and Josiah Wilson splitting snaps. Wilson began the season as the starter and is more of the running threat, but Sandoval has proven to be an effective as a pocket passer in recent weeks.
Anchored by senior middle linebackers Junior Saavedra and Dominik Moore, Kimball’s defense has been a strength. The Jags have given up more than 21 points just three teams, all against top opponents — 8-1 Moorpark, Manteca and Central Catholic.
Manteca (3-1, 6-3) at Oakdale (3-1, 7-2): The oldest rivalry in the VOL goes back 100 years, with Oakdale leading 53-46-4.
It’s been one-sided of late, as the Buffaloes have won six of the last seven. They’ll look to continue that trend as they prepare for their title defense in the rugged Division II playoffs. They were able to shut out Oakdale’s potent Wing-T the last time they squared off, winning 55-0 in one of the most lopsided results in the long history of the series.
The Mustangs have been somewhat of an enigma this season, holding on for one-score wins against Sierra and Kimball — two teams Manteca have blown out — but playing Central Catholic tough for a half before sucumbing to the talented Raiders, 64-39.
Manteca fumbled a great opportunity last week to get its first win over Central Catholic, letting a two-score lead in the second half slip away. The positive from that marquee matchup is the continued production from workhorse running back Bryson Davis after his return from elbow injury, and the passing game was again dangerous. Garrison Reis has linked up wtih speedy receiver Julian Moncada for touchdowns in three straight weeks.
Central Catholic (4-0, 7-2) at Sierra (1-3, 4-5): Battle-tested and snakebit in close games all season, the Timberwolves finally pulled one out last week with the win on East Union’s homecoming.
With that coveted fourth win out of the way, the pressure is off this week as they go toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the SJS — Central Catholic is ranked fifth overall, according to MaxPreps ratings. Sierra won the first-ever meeting between the two back in 2014 but has dropped the next seven and most of them have not been close.
The Raiders are projected to be the No. 3 seed in the SJS Division I bracket. They outsize most of their opponents up front and have multiple NCAA Division I athletes at the skill positions.
Sierra is no doubt a big underdog, but there is still very likely at least one more game the T’wolves can look forward to.
Lathrop (5-1, 6-3) at Mountain House (4-2, 5-4): Lathrop might have its postseason spot secured, but there is still much to play for and against a rival that is also battling for favorable playoff positioning.
A win likely guarantees a first-round home game for the Division V playoffs. Mountain House is just above the qualifying line in the more competitive Division III bracket as the projected No. 11 seed.
Lathrop struggled against dual-threat QB David Herrera and Los Banos’ spread offense last week and will be faced with much of the same on Friday. Amare Brooks (1,460 passing yards, 18 TDs; 690 rushing yards, 11 TDs).
E.J. Campbell Jr. and Charles Wolfe are the leading receivers, and they each also have four interceptions on defense. The Mustangs have rounded into form after dropping back-to-back to Johansen and Los Banos, winning in landslides against Beyer, Pacheco and Ceres.
Mountain House leads the young and competitive rivalry, 3-2.
Hughson (2-2, 6-3) at Ripon (1-3, 3-6): Ripon has had a rough go, losing three in a row with injuries to key players piling up.
The Indians still have a shot at making the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season. Their chances took a big hit two weeks ago when they lost at Livingston 28-14 in an upset.
All they have to do know is knock off the state’s reigning Division V-AA titleholder. Hughson again looks the part of a contender despite three losses, all of them decided by seven or less points against top competition (Division II Downey, state Division IV-AA champ Escalon, defending TVL champ Hilmar).
Three-star QB Robert McDaniel, who has offers from Arkansas State and Toledo, has had an outstanding junior campaign for the Huskies. He distributes the ball evenly to David Delgado, Larkin Meyer and 6-foot-3 Malakai Sumter. Running back Alexander Villareal is marching toward a 1,000-yard season.
Delhi (2-4, 2-6) at Ripon Christian (6-0, 8-1): Ripon Christian’s final run through the SAL has been mostly uneventful.
Last week, the Knights ran just 14 offensive plays in a 42-0 rout of Gustine. It was also their sixth shutout of the season and eighth straight victory.
Delhi is out of the hunt for a playoff berth but may be playing its best ball of the season. The Hawks threatened to stun 7-2 Le Grand in their home finale last week but came up short, 28-21. They shut down Denair 21-0 in the week prior.
Delhi runs a ground-based offense that spreads the carries around. The Hawks have no running back with 300-plus rushing yards but six with at least 169.
