Saturday games are a rarity these days for local football teams, but Manteca starts its season with back-to-back weekend tilts.

It’s one of several intriguing matchups for Week 1, as Christian Brothers visits the Buffaloes. While it’s the season opener for the Falcons of Sacramento, Manteca is coming off a 37-13 zero-week trouncing of Buhach Colony in Atwater.

Manteca coach Eric Reis didn’t intend for his team’s first two games to take place on Saturdays. Buhach Colony hosts games at its rival school’s stadium, but Atwater scheduled a home game for last Friday.

And Reis told the Bulletin over the summer that Christian Brothers coach Daniel Carmazzi requested that their game be played on Saturday because that is when Elk Grove transfer Tyler Vander Waal — a 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback who has committed to Ball State — becomes eligible.

Reis agreed.

“We want to see them at their best,” he said.

Vander Waal last played as a sophomore for powerhouse Elk Grove, throwing for 1,294 yards and 11 touchdowns. He enrolled at Christian Brothers at the start of the school year in 2015 and had to sit out due to CIF transfer rules.

The Falcons went 9-3 with then-senior Braeden Bourke starring at quarterback. Among the their top returners is running back/corner back Jamarri Jackson, who has drawn interest from Nebraska after compiling 813 rushing yards, 409 receiving, 24 total touchdowns and four interceptions. Also back is their second-leading receiver in 6-foot-1, 190-pound Matt Marengo (713 yards, eight TDs).

Here’s a closer look at Friday’s Week 1 contests:

East Union (0-0) at

Ceres (0-1)

The Lancers will look to get off to another great start after carrying a 3-0 record into Valley Oak League play last season. They take on a Ceres squad that lost to Weston Ranch, 40-13.

Ceres was led by quarterback Chris Lubinsky (25 of 42, 303 yards, two TDs, interception) and receiver Marcellus Boykins (11 catches, 159 yards) but gave up 321 rushing yards along with a pick-six and another score on a kickoff return — both by Malik Vega-Tatum.

Central Valley (1-0) at Sierra (1-0)

Central Valley has qualified for the postseason twice in the last three years, and the Hawks are off and running after crushing Atwater, 43-6.

Sierra defeated the Hawks 23-13 last year and came back to beat Ripon 22-19 in its opener. Central Valley brings a run-heavy attack that piled up 267 yards at Atwater with Jonathan Baragan (74 yards, two TDs) and Gerardo Solorzano (55 yards, two TDs) leading the way.

Hilmar (1-0) at

Lathrop (1-0)

Lathrop won a season opener for the first time last week at West, 21-14, but the Spartans will have to play a cleaner game after turning the ball over four times.

Hilmar a co-championship with Ripon in the Trans-Valley League and was a Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI finalist in 2015. The Yellowjackets beat Beyer 42-22 in its opener with QB Chase Kindberg hitting six different receivers for 321 yards and four touchdowns.

Edison (0-0) at

Weston Ranch (1-0)

Edison had an extra week to prepare for south Stockton rival Weston Ranch.

Friday marks the first game back as head coach for Booker Guyton, who led the Vikings from 1998-2002. His first stint ended after the team was sanctioned for violating SJS and San Joaquin Athletic Association rules.

The two teams split their only meetings against each other, with the Cougars prevailing 20-6 en route to a 3-0 start in 2015. They’ll look to keep it rolling after beating Ceres with a balanced attack and stifling defense.

Ripon (0-1) at Galt (0-1)

Ripon seeks redemption after failing to hold a 13-0 lead in its loss to Sierra.

Galt has struggled since the opening of Liberty Ranch, which advanced to the SJS Division IV finals last season, is coming off a 3-7 campaign. The Warriors are on a six-game losing skid with their 31-6 loss to Kennedy, but they return a stud in running back Zach Orman (1,651 yards, 24 TDs).

Stone Ridge Ch. (1-0) at Ripon Ch. (1-0)

There should be great interest in this all-Knights battle between two of the best small-school programs in the southern half of the section.

Stone Ridge Christian of Merced wants to avenge last year’s 35-28 loss to Ripon Christian, its only setback of the regular season. Stone Ridge didn’t lose again until getting outlasted by East Nicolaus 34-14 in the CIF State Division VI-AA Northern California Regional Bowl Game. East Nicolaus went on to win a state title and just so happens to be Ripon Christian’s next opponent.