There are intriguing match-ups involving all local high school football teams this Friday, as league play kicks off for most.

East Union, which had a Week Zero bye, concludes its pre-league schedule with a battle of unbeatens against visiting Placer, which looks to avenge a season-ending loss at Dino Cunial Field in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs last year.

The Lancers’ intra-city rivals begin Valley Oak League action, both on the road. Two-time defending champion Manteca continues its travel-heavy schedule with a revamped Patterson squad boosted by transfers at key positions. Sierra heads to Oakdale, where first-year Timberwolves coach Ryan Teicheira previously served as an assistant.

In the Trans Valley League, Ripon starts off with undefeated Hilmar after surviving a brutally-tough non-league schedule with its star quarterback sidelined with an injury for much of it. Ripon Christian, one of three 4-0 teams in the TVL, is coming off an impressive road win and aims to keep it rolling at traditional power Escalon.

The two schools in Lathrop are home for what could be their toughest league opponents. Reigning Western Athletic Conference champion Lathrop, refreshed from its bye week, welcomes a Johansen team that missed an opportunity to upset the Vikings at home a year ago. On the other side of Bradshaw’s Crossing Bridge, undefeated River Islands begins Mother Lode League action with state champion Calaveras.

Here’s a closer look at the Week 4 matchups in the area:

Placer (4-0) at East Union (3-0): After three blowout wins, including two shutouts, over Modesto City Schools programs, the Lancers will get a stiff test before venturing into the shark-infested waters of the VOL.

Placer and its Wing-T offense has found its footing the past few weeks in a 34-28 win over Laguna Creek and a 42-0 blanking of Rio Linda. That followed defensive battles against Casa Roble and Ripon.

The Hillmen from Auburn lost their 2025 postseason opener 58-25 at East Union, which went on to reach its first section final since 1989. EU has lost most of its standouts from that squad to graduation, but rising stars are emerging.

Top rushers Jesiah Aday (334 yards, 7.3 per carry, three touchdowns; 28 tackles, 3.5 for losses) and Isaiah Caminiti (324 yards, 7.4 per carry, seven TDs; 19 tackles, interception) head Placer’s balanced ground attack and are also defensive leaders.

Placer has size and experience in the trenches, which features 6-foot-3, 285-pound UCLA commit Gage Esty.

Manteca (2-2) at Patterson (3-1): The Buffaloes racked up the travel miles in their pre-league Tour of NorCal that ended with an impressive 50-14 thrashing of Chico, one of the best teams from the Northern Section.

Patterson could be undefeated if not for a 24-21 overtime loss to Merced, which battled back from a two-score deficit. The Tigers rebounded with three consecutive victories, including a notable 27-20 result at TVL contending Hughson.

Junior quarterback Scout Silva (713 yards, six TDs, two INTs; 131 rushing yards, two TDs) and senior running back Alex Ventura (529 yards, 7.1 per carry, five TDs) have been immediate contributors for Patterson after transferring from Turlock. Defensive back Xavier Archuleta (18 tackles) transferred from Modesto.

The addition of Silva has allowed Caden Lozano, who filled in at QB last year because of injuries, to move back to receiver (24 catches, 431 yards, four TDs), and he’s leads the defensive backfield (23 tackles, INT).

Fourth-year senior Jace Johnson, a 6-4, 230-pound tight end and defensive end, is another two-way contributor. He has committed to Eastern Washington University.

Sierra (3-1) at Oakdale (1-3): Sierra has not beaten the Mustangs since the SJS Division IV championship game. The last time the Timberwolves won at The Corral was in 2009, thanks to a last-minute field goal in a 44-42 thriller.

It has been an otherwise one-sided VOL rivalry favoring Oakdale, which claimed 17 of the last 20 meetings.

The Mustangs may be 1-3 going into the league opener, but they’ve faced tough competition, most recently Crean Lutheran of Irvine, a top-50 team in the state, according to MaxPreps ratings. Their lone win came in Week Zero against traditional rival Sonora, a reloaded two-time state champ. That was followed by one-score losses to Lincoln of Stockton and Escalon.

Oakdale lost all-time SJS leading rusher Wes Burford to graduation but remains productive in the run game with senior Anthony Navarro (477 yards, 5.1 per carry, four TDs) and junior wingback Andres Ruiz (243 yards, 10.1 per carry, two TDs).

Sierra is coming off a 28-21 overtime win at Gregori and has the No. 5 leading receiver in Blama Kamara (15 catches, 435 yards, four TDs).

Johansen (2-1) at Lathrop (1-2): Lathrop committed eight turnovers in its losses to Golden Valley and upper-division heavyweight Tracy.

The Spartans hope their modified Wing-T can recapture some of the magic it had in the Week 1 33-14 win at Sierra. First-year coach Justin Muschott had the opportunity to work out the kinks during the team’s bye, but Johansen also had the week off from game action.

The Vikings cruised past Modesto and Buhach Colony to start the season stumbled going into their bye with a 36-6 loss at East Union.

They’re spearheaded by two-way players WR/DB Joel Murillo (106 yards, two TDs; two INTs), WR/DB Jeydan Saing, 5-9, 325-pound fullback/middle linebacker Miamiah Paopao (91 yards two TDs; 15 tackles, sack) and 6-3, 255-pound lineman Camren Reason (31 tackles, 8.0 for losses, 3.0 sacks). Saing is a third-year starter and All-WAC First-Team selection.

Calaveras (3-1) at River Islands (4-1): The Riptide will find out if it’s for real on Friday in a duel of contrasting styles.

River Islands is off to the best start in the program’s short history but has blown out four teams with a combined 2-11 record. It has put up astronomical numbers, in the process. QB Daryl Carpenter (83 of 108, 1,418 yards, 17 TDs, no INTs) is currently the leading passer in the SJS, while junior Darien East (24 catches, 558 yards, nine TDs) tops the section in receiving.

Calaveras, the Division V-A state champion, counters with a run-heavy attack that remains effective despite heavy graduation losses. Bruising RB/LB Colton Ray (318 yards, 6.9 per carry, four TDs) pairs with RB/safety Owen Shahan (441 yards, 8.8 per carry, five TDs) in the Red Hawks’ prolific backfield.

Calaveras’ lone loss was a 28-14 heartbreaker at Ripon Christian, but it has notably comfortable wins over Bradshaw Christian and Division VII-A state champion Balboa.