Manteca is 0-2 to start the season for the first time in 30 years.

The Buffaloes will look to end the streak in their home opener Friday when they welcome Chavez and celebrate the 100th season of football at the school.

The 1996 team began with back-to-back 35-7 losses to Johansen and Rio Linda, then dropped a third straight to Escalon, 37-13. Manteca rebounded with a 21-14 upset win at Los Banos in the Valley Oak League opener.

Manteca may have never had as tough an opening stretch to a season as the current group, however. The losses to St. Francis of Mountain View and Buchanan of Clovis — two highly-ranked teams in their respective section — were both on the road, now the Buffs face a young and hungry Chavez team that’s eager to prove its 10-0 regular season in 2025 was no fluke. It doesn’t get easier from there, as they venture to Chico next to square off with one of the Northern Section’s best.

Elsewhere in Week 2, neighboring Ripon and Ripon Christian are hosting undefeated teams in Pitman and Calaveras, respectively.

Lathrop, coming off the first win under new head coach Justin Muschott, has a tough assignment with visiting Tracy. East Union also welcomes an unbeaten squad in Johansen.

Sierra, smarting from its loss to rival Lathrop, has a chance to bounce back at struggling Modesto. River Islands is also headed that direction with a visit to Modesto Christian, where first-year coach Nicholas Kendall and defensive coordinator Torijean Saffold previously served as assistants.

Here’s a closer look at Week 2 contests in the area:

Chavez (1-1) at Manteca (0-2): A Chavez alumnus, Derek Graves took over a winless team in 2024 and turned the Titans into a two-time San Joaquin Athletic Association champion.

To be better prepared for the postseason, they looked to Manteca to stack a non-league schedule that already included Franklin of Elk Grove and Trans Valley League power Escalon. Chavez started the new year with a 34-14 loss to Franklin but rebounded with a 27-22 victory at Escalon.

The first-ever gridiron showdown between Chavez and Manteca will feature two dynamic 6-foot-3 athletes committed to Pac-12 schools.

Oregon State commit Jackson Batch (11 receptions, 165 yards, touchdown) stars at receiver and free safety. Opposite him is Manteca’s Jayden Harris (12 receptions, 171 yards, TD), who has committed to Washington State.

Sharing the spotlight for each team are players with top accolades in the Sac-Joaquin Section. Junior quarterback Elijah Walker (30 of 53, 430 yards, three TDs, two interceptions) is in his third varsity season under Graves and was named MaxPreps’ All-SJS Sophomore of the Year. Meanwhile, Manteca is led by fourth-year running back Nikko Juarez (236 yards, 5.5 per carry, four TDs), the reigning MaxPreps Junior of the Year.

Walker is supported by running back/linebacker Izzac Tapia (147 yards, two TDs; 18 tackles) and 280-pound, two-way lineman Kahma’re Narcisse.

Inside linebacker Okustino Taufatofua (23 tackles, 4.0 for losses, sack) and defensive back James Brown (22 tackles, three pass break-ups) head the Titans defense.

Johansen (2-0) at East Union (1-0): They share a common opponent in Modesto, which Johansen blanked 27-0 in Week Zero. East Union routed the Panthers 49-0 but lost running back/strong safety Nikko Hisatomi to injury.

The Lancers have won six straight against Johansen going back to 2014. It was a 53-12 drubbing last year. The Vikings went on to finish as runners-up to Lathrop in the Western Athletic Conference and won a SJS Bowl Game to finish 8-3 — their best since 2008.

Both teams since lost their top offensive players to graduation, though that has not slowed them down, so far.

Sophomore A.J. Banuelos has taken over for WAC Offensive Player of the Year Anthony Torres as Johansen’s quarterback, but he’s aided by returning receiver Jeydan Saing, who is also a top producer on defense. Fullback/middle linebacker Niamiah Paopao is another two-way standout returner for the Vikings.

Sierra (1-1) at Modesto (0-2): The Timberwolves split their first two contests under new coach Ryan Teicheira.

He wants his team to establish a physical running game, but it has been tough sledding while averaging just 65 yards on the ground. In addition, Lathrop had its way in the second half against a tiring Sierra defense on the way to a 33-14 win.

This may be the game for Sierra to get untracked.

Modesto surrendered 242 rushing yards to East Union last week and 153 to Johansen. The Panthers have lost 10 consecutive games, the last four being shutouts.

The game will take place at Johansen’s Dan Gonsalves Stadium.

Tracy (2-0) at Lathrop (1-1): Lathrop followed up a frustrating loss at Golden Valley, which took advantage of five turnovers, with a satisfying win at Sierra.

The home opener may be the Spartans’ biggest test of the regular season.

Tracy is loaded with returning talent that’s reinforced by up-and-comers from a 10-0 JV team. The Bulldogs proved their worth last week by knocking off Valley Christian in overtime, 21-20. The Warriors from San Jose are one of the best teams out of the Central Coast Section.

Running back David Grisham (251 yards, 8.7 per carry, four TDs), formerly of Manteca, is featured in Tracy’s balanced attack with third-year junior QB Brady Brown (13 of 25, 233 yards, two TDs; 71 rushing yards, two TDs).

Tracy’s defense is anchored by MaxPreps All-SJS Second Team linebacker Case Borges (14 tackles, sack, interception). Like Lathrop, the Bulldogs are stout in trenches with 6-4, 260 pound tackle/defensive end Donavyn Hernandez (12 tackles), 6-3, 265-pound Maxwell Moore (11 tackles, 4.0 for losses, 2.0 sacks), 6-2, 285-pound Mason Pribble and 6-1, 250-pound Kane Stroup.

River Islands (2-0) at Modesto Christian (0-2): Already off to the best start in program history, River Islands can keep it rolling against a team that has yet to score a point.

To be fair, the young Crusaders have been tested by unbeaten opponents Minarets and Monte Vista, losing to both by a combined 57-0 score. Minarets is the reigning Central Section Division VI champion.

Freshman Deven Green has taken the bulk of the snaps behind center for Modesto Christian. Sophomore running back Mahafatau, senior quarterback Cristian Gonzales, junior receiver/cornerback Jameel Harrison and 350-pound defensive lineman David Falepouono are top returners.

The Crusaders have only mustered 213 yards of offense through two games, while surrendering 571.

Pitman (2-0) at Ripon (1-1): Ripon’s offense struggled without senior quarterback Andrew Shaw in a 14-7 loss at Placer.

Up next is a confident Pitman team coming off its best season since 2018. The Pride, 5-6 last year, is off and running in year 2 under coach Braden Plaa with wins over Central Valley and Franklin of Stockton.

Junior QB Brayden Esparza (21 of 31, 375 yards, six TDs, INT), senior receiver Santiago Flores (nine receptions, 212 yards, four TDs) and 6-foot, 210-pound running back Jaiden Brown (143 yards, 5.7 per carry, two TDs) head a balanced offense averaging 32 points.

It’s an early big game for Ripon, which ends pre-league action next week at Tracy.

Calaveras (2-0) at Ripon Christian (2-0): Both teams have lost a ton of talent to graduation, but new standouts have emerged.

Juniors Tyler Van Elderen (213 yards, 7.6 per carry, three TDs), Stadtler Postma (15 tackles, INT) and Talen Tameling (95 rushing yards, two TDs; 11 tackles, INT) are stepping for a Ripon Christian team that lost 11 All-TVL selections.

Calaveras also lost much of its stars from the Division V-A state championship team, including both Mother Lode League Co-MVPs, the Defensive Player of the Year, Lineman of the Year, four first-team selections and a second-teamer.

All-MLL first-team defensive players Colton Ray (22 tackles, 4.0 for losses, sack; 183 rushing yards, three TDs), Owen Shahan (14 tackles, two fumble recoveries; 258 rushing yards, three TDs) and Quincy Dyson (94 rushing yards, two TD) are now leaders on offense alongside all-league second-team QB Cohen Curran.

Calaveras opened with impressive 34-14 win over Bradshaw Christian before thumping Balboa of San Francisco, 49-8.

Ripon Christian defeated the Red Hawks 38-21 last year and is 6-0 all-time against them.