Manteca secured at least a piece of the Valley Oak League title last Friday at Patterson, but the Buffaloes’ celebration was muted.
Coach Mark Varnum’s message to the team after the 39-27 win: “We don’t want just a slice. We want the whole pie.”
Manteca (5-0 VOL, 8-1 overall) will get a chance to earn its first outright championship since 2013 on Friday, which will be an eventful night with fellow VOL charter member Oakdale (4-1, 7-2) visiting the renovated stadium at Guss Schmiedt Field. It will be the Buffaloes’ first true home game of the season after hosting three at other Manteca Unified schools.
Manteca’s last two championships (2016, 2019), since garnering sole possession in 2013, were split three ways with Oakdale and Central Catholic. That scenario can be repeated if the Mustangs pull off the upset Friday and five-time reigning champ Central Catholic downs Sierra.
The historic Manteca-Oakdale rivalry goes back to 1923 before the formation of the VOL in 1947. Oakdale holds the 53-47-4 series lead, but the Buffaloes have won the last three and seven of eight, including their 2021 clash in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V final won by Manteca, 35-28. The Mustangs fell short of an upset last season at The Corral, 28-27.
The 105th meeting will showcase two of the top running backs in the SJS. Oakdale, in fact, boasts the No. 1-ranked rusher and scorer in the section in 6-foot, 210-pound fullback Wes Burford, who has compiled 1,846 yards (10.3 per carry) and 27 touchdowns. Chase Lopez (929 yards, eight TDs) and Gavin Wyatt (503 total yards, seven TDs) are other essential weapons in the Mustangs’ Wing-T.
Sophomore Nikko Juarez has starred in the Buffaloes’ loaded backfield and is a top-five producer in the section despite being limited by a shoulder injury in league play. He has more than 1,150 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Elijah Stevenson, fullback Maava Tialavea — each with 400-plus rushing yards and seven TDs apiece— and two-way standout Quinn Martinez helped pick up the slack with Juarez on the mend.
The SJS playoffs kick off next week, and brackets will be revealed Sunday. MaxPreps projects Manteca as the No. 4 seed in the stacked Division II field, while Oakdale looks to lock up a top-two seed in Division III.
Here’s a glance at other Week 10 games:
Valley Oak League
Sierra (2-3, 5-4) at Central Catholic (4-1, 6-3): The Timberwolves have had a rough three-game stretch, and it only gets tougher in their regular-season finale.
Central Catholic can still garner at share of the VOL title, with some help from Oakdale, but is also playing for favorable positioning in the Division I playoffs. MaxPreps projections has the Raiders seeded third.
CC has been dominant since a 31-14 loss to Manteca. Junior quarterback Kayden McHenry (1,065 yards, 12 TDs, four interceptions) and receiver Chase Perino (678 total yards, eight TDs) have helped balance out the Raiders’ physical run game starring Joey Alcutt (901 yards, nine TDs), Carter Meeks (391-7) and fullback Wyatt Dragoo (350-7).
Sierra is limping toward the finish line with injuries to key players, but an at-large playoff berth is assured thanks to its strength of schedule. A win in Modesto could secure a first-round home game in Division IV.
East Union (0-5, 4-5) at Mountain House (0-5, 0-9): The bye week could not come soon enough for EU, which dropped five in a row after a perfect pre-league run.
The Lancers have surrendered an average of 47.4 points in league, and the offense has been inconsistent with up to three quarterbacks rotating behind center.
Facing a winless Mountain House team that is giving up 50 points per league game gives them a good opportunity to get right heading into the Division IV playoffs. The 10th-year Mustangs have enjoyed some successful seasons in the Trans-Valley League and Western Athletic Conference, but their inaugural campaign in the merciless VOL has been a struggle.
Speedy dual-threat QB Erin Foster and freshman RB Jacoby Johnson provide a glimmer of hope for the future. Foster has passed for 985 yards and nine touchdowns while leading Mountain House in rushing with 420 yards and five TDs. The junior is also one of the Mustangs’ top defensive players.
Western Athletic Conference
Beyer (1-5, 2-7) at Lathrop (6-0, 8-1): After tightening its grip on the first conference championship in program history on the road the past two weeks, the Spartans can celebrate their coronation at Bennie Gatto Field.
They’re a shoo-in for a first-round bye in Division V. Lathrop’s final tune-up is a Beyer team that has been shut out the past two weeks and three times total all season. The Patriots’ only wins have come against West and Central Valley, which are a combined 2-16.
Postseason honors may be the only drama left in the WAC. Two-way standout Pablo Pena, the Spartans’ leading rusher and tackler, is having an MVP season, while Casyn Hopping and Sean Teu have anchored the top defensive line in the WAC.
Trans-Valley League
Sonora (3-2, 7-2) at Ripon Christian (1-4, 4-5): Ripon Christian is in the running for a first-round home game in Division VI even after back-to-back road losses. The Knights came up short last week at former Southern League foe Orestimba, 21-17.
They return home to square off with a rejuvenated Sonora squad that was undefeated before a one-point loss at TVL champ Hughson followed by a stunning defeat at Ripon. The Wildcats took out their frustrations on Modesto Christian last Friday, winning the non-league contest, 64-0. They’re looking to shore up a first-round bye.
Tommy Sutton (887 yards, eight TDs), Cash Byington (620 yards, nine TDs), Brody Speer (492 total yards, five TDs) and 6-4 QB Eli Ingalls (622 passing yards, six TDs; 343 rushing yards, nine TDs) lead Sonora’s triple-option offense.
Previously a powerhouse in the Mother Lode and Valley Oak leagues, Sonora will meet RC on the gridiron for the first time.
Ripon (1-4, 3-6) at Hilmar (2-3, 4-5): The Indians missed an opportunity to clinch a likely playoff berth last week against bitter rival Escalon, giving up 16 unanswered points in the second half in a 23-14 setback.
They have one last crack at it against another longtime rival. The Yellowjackets have won three of the last four against Ripon, and both teams have battled through key injuries all season.
Multi-talented Caden Bailey did not play in Hilmar’s 41-24 loss to unbeaten Hughson last week, and it’s the third game he has missed. He’s still the Yellowjackets’ leading rusher (664 yards, seven TDs). QB Merek Ellerd (1,186 passing yards, 13 TDs; 584 rushing yards, four TDs) has picked up the slack along with 6-4, 215-pound tight end John Labno (472 yards, three TDs), running back/line backer Tanner Westmoreland and linebacker Colston Johnston.
Mother Lode League
River Islands (1-4, 2-7) at Riverbank (1-4, 5-4): The Riptide’s postseason hopes were dashed last Saturday in a one-sided loss to visiting Viewpoint of Calabasas, but they can still end their first varsity campaign on a high note.
Riverbank’s low Calpreps rating is likely to keep it out of the Division VI playoffs regardless of the result on Friday, but the Bruins are having their best season under Manteca grad and former Lathrop coach Joe Pirillo.
Gabriel Sandoval (542 yards, six TDs), Gabriel Nisperos (344-5) and Wayne Reyes III (333-2) lead Riverbank’s power-I offense. Nisperos is also the leader on defense.
The Bruins are coming off a 14-0 win over Bret Harte, and it was their fourth shutout of the season. River Islands held off winless Bret Harte two weeks ago, 46-35.
WEEK 10 STANDINGS
Valley Oak League
league overall
Manteca 5-0 8-1
Oakdale 4-1 7-2
Central Cath. 4-1 6-3
Patterson 3-3 5-5
Sierra 2-3 5-4
East Union 0-5 4-5
Mtn. House 0-5 0-9
Week 10 games
Oakdale at Manteca
Sierra at Central Catholic
East Union at Mountain House
Patterson bye
Western Athletic Conference
league overall
Lathrop 6-0 8-1
Johansen 4-2 5-4
Ceres 4-2 6-3
Pacheco 3-3 5-4
Grace Davis 3-3 4-5
Livingston 3-3 4-5
Beyer 1-5 2-7
Central Valley 0-6 1-8
Week 10 games
Beyer at Lathrop
Grace Davis at Johansen
Pacheco at Livingston
Central Valley at Ceres
Trans-Valley League
league overall
Hughson 6-0 9-0
Sonora 3-2 7-2
Escalon 3-2 4-5
Hilmar 2-3 4-5
Orestimba 2-3 6-3
Ripon Chr. 1-4 4-5
Ripon 1-4 3-6
Week 10 games
Sonora at Ripon Christian
Ripon at Hilmar
Orestimba at Escalon
Modesto Christian at Hughson
Mother Lode League
league overall
Linden 5-0 8-1
Calaveras 4-1 7-2
Summerville 4-1 8-1
Big Valley Ch. 3-3 5-4
Riverbank 1-4 5-4
River Islands 1-4 2-7
Bret Harte 0-5 0-8
Week 10 games
River Islands at Riverbank
Linden at Summerville
Bret Harte at Calaveras
Big Valley Ch. at Elite