Manteca kicks off its 100th football season this Friday against a private-school power from the distinguished West Catholic Athletic League.

St. Francis awaits the Buffaloes in Mountain View in what will be a rematch of the 2017 Division II-A NorCal Regional Bowl Game. Newly-anointed offensive coordinator Gino Campiotti was the star quarterback for the 2017 Buffs. St. Francis held on for the 28-23 win at Guss Schmiedt Field and went on to defeat Grace of Simi Valley for a state title.

It’s also the start of a NorCal tour for Manteca, which heads to Clovis next week to meet Central Section titan Buchanan. Then on Sept. 18, the Buffaloes will meet one of the Northern Section’s best in Chico.

Ripon has also strengthened its non-league schedule and begins with Livermore, which is coming off its first league championship since 1995. The Cowboys play in the East Bay Athletic League’s Valley Division.

Elsewhere, three area schools go to battle with new coaches. Ryan Teicheira is back with his alma mater at Sierra, which hosts Enochs. His successor at Lathrop, Justin Muscott, debuts as head coach on the road against Golden Valley. River Islands unveils its pass-first attack under Nicolas Kendall against visiting Waterford.

Also, Ripon Christian squares off with Summerville for a third straight year, while East Union starts the season with a bye.

Here’s a closer look at Week Zero matchups:

Manteca (11-1) at St. Francis (5-6): The Lancers were hit hard by losses to graduation and transfers, leaving them with five returning starters on offense and three on defense.

Reinforcements have arrived from a 9-1 JV team that went undefeated in the WCAL, however.

Leading rusher Motu Keanaaina transferred to league rival Serra, while 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive tackle Apisai Fifita landed at SoCal juggernaut Oaks Christian of Westlake Village.

St. Francis still has rising quarterback Drew Cumby, who got the lion’s share of snaps behind center as a sophomore last year. The Lancers finished third in the WCAL and lost to Los Gatos 14-7 in the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs.

It’ll be strength against strength on both sides of scrimmage, as Manteca’s experience on defense comes from the secondary. Offensively, the run-based will be tested by sturdy defensive St. Francis front led by 6-2, 220-pound middle linebacker Jayden Lewis, outside linebacker Leonidus Parry and junior defensive linemen Miles Day and Parker Jacobs.

Navy-committed safety Uate Pifeleti anchors the Lancers’ secondary. The 6-3, 190-pound standout also plays receiver and punter.

Enochs (3-8) at Sierra (2-8): Sierra is 0-3 all-time against the Eagles from Modesto, who won last year’s meeting in a shootout, 61-55.

James Stacy has returned to his old post as head coach at Enochs. His previous stint of 12 years ended in 2021. He inherits a team that lost all of its top offensive weapons and returns just one all-league player in defensive back Mason Shaw.

This could be a prime opportunity for the Timberwolves to notch their first win over Enochs and, more importantly, gain some positive momentum under their new coach and new offensive system.

Lathrop (10-2) at Golden Valley (2-9): The Cougars were competitive in the Central California Conference but had two of their wins reversed via forfeiture.

They expect to be improved with some key returners led by running back/strong safety Isaiah Welch, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark last year and scored 14 touchdowns. He’s also reliable in the passing game for 6-4 quarterback Gab Richards, and Golden Valley’s top returning defensive player.

Camdin Patterson and Julian Solorio are potential two-way producers as 6-foot-2 receivers and defensive linemen. Running back/linebacker Michael Sias and receiver/defensive back Jordan Harris gained ample varsity experience as sophomores.

Waterford (6-5) at River Islands (3-6): It’s revenge season for the third-year varsity Riptide.

In last year’s opener, Waterford rolled past the ’Tide 33-6

Both teams return many of their key players.

The Wildcats are anchored by a talented junior class that included varsity starters as sophomores, such as quarterback Damien Tellez, RB/LB C.J. Price and linebacker Apevat Komthongpane. They did lose 6-4, 220-pound junior defensive end Michael Statzer, who transferred to Hughson.

Waterford punished River Islands with its running game last year, piling up 217 yards on 42 attempts.

Livermore (9-2) at Ripon (5-6): Livermore’s outstanding 2025 season ended in a near-upset of top-seeded Campolindo, which won the North Coast Section Division II playoff opener, 28-26.

The Cowboys, however, lost 11 all-league selections to graduation, including MVP and dual-threat QB Matteo Lortie and 1,000-yard receiver CT Harper. Livermore lost its five top receivers.

Caden Romero was the second-leading rusher behind Lortie with 549 yards (6.6 per carry) and three touchdowns. He returns, along with All-EBAL Valley Division defensive lineman Aurelio Guignolucci. There’s also experience up front with 6-3, 260-pound Alex Young and defensive tackle/guard Joel Dias.

Junior Maverick Harrington and sophomore Maximus Beck are competing for the quarterback spot.

Ripon Christian (10-3) at Summerville (8-3): These teams will get reacquainted, but with a lot of new faces on both sides.

Summerville earned Sac-Joaquin Section and state championships just two years ago and finished as Mother Lode League runner-up in 2025 under coach Sean Leveroos. He has stepped down, and 12 all-league selections graduated. Former defensive coordinator Kole Elkins took over as head coach.

Ripon Christian had 11 All-Trans Valley League players graduate. The Knights are 3-2 all-time against Summerville, and they split the last two meetings.