40 years ago: October 23, 1974 – Coach Vern Gebhardt’s high-flying East Union High gridders were slowed a bit last Friday night at Sonora High but still managed to come from behind and nail down a bruising 14-7 decision over a fired-up pack of Wildcats. Halfback Dana Taylor slanted off tackle for three yards and a touchdown to give the Lancers the winning margin early in the final quarter. Doug Swift had scored the first EU tally on a one-yard smash with just over nine minutes remaining in the second period. The East Union defense, led by Mario Silveira and Frank Hayes, held Sonora to only 33 yards rushing.

In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:



30 years ago: October 23, 1984 - The East Union High and Manteca High tennis teams both picked up victories Monday afternoon. The Lady Lancers remained in the hunt for a VOL championship with a 9.5-5.5 win over Oakdale High, while Manteca High shredded Ceres High 14-1 in a non-league match. Against Oakdale, EU’s Julie Davis paced her team with three victories. As the score indicates, the Lady Buffs dominated the entire Ceres lineup Monday. No. 1 singles player Ranata Scholl only surrendered one game in three matches. She has not been beaten by a VOL opponent.

Manteca High junior Tony Perez blazed across the three-mile Angels Camp course in 15:36 Thursday afternoon to capture first place in the VOL cross-country championships. The highest East Union High finisher was Jeff Knight, who was 13th in 21:57. Manteca High won the team title by default, since the Buffaloes were the only team to field a complete squad. The highest local finisher in the girls’ race was Manteca High’s Florence Dominguez, who finished in a time of 21:51.

Manteca High’s volleyball team captured at least a share of the VOL championship Tuesday evening as the Lady Buffs downed Modesto High, 15-0, 15-12. Lisa Womack and Michelle Smith each served for six straight points for Manteca.

Manteca High dug itself an early hole and never did find a way to cope with a brutalizing Oakdale High running game Friday night as the Mustangs captured a decisive 27-6 VOL football victory before a sparse crowd at Guss Schmiedt Field. The Buffaloes turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions. It wasn’t until 22 seconds remained in the game that the Buffs got on the scoreboard with a 33-yard pass from Pete Nelson to Steve Duran. Nelson completed 14 of 27 passes for 181 yards.

St. Mary’s College Prep from Albany ran and ran from the opening kickoff to the closing gun as the Panthers defeated East Union High Saturday 39-6 at Guss Schmiedt Field. Only 359 fans witnessed the non-league contest. The Lancers’ only score was a nine-yard touchdown run by David Brandow.

Manteca High’s Ranata Scholl was named the VOL’s most valuable tennis player following the championships Saturday in Oakdale. Scholl, a senior, finished the regular season with a 24-0 record. She defeated teammate Katie Gaynor in the finals, 6-0, 6-1. East Union High’s Julie Davis was named to the all-VOL team after finishing 20-4, including a third place in the league.



20 years ago: October 22, 1994 – Oakdale High’s formidable front line keyed an overpowering 26-7 victory over East Union High on Friday night in Oakdale. The Lancers were held to only 54 yards rushing by the Mustang line. Eddie Moreno, who led the EU rushers with 51 of those yards, scored the lone Lancer TD on a 20-yard scamper in the second quarter after a fumble recovery. Ben Gushea kicked the extra point.

The Manteca High defense had five interceptions (Joey Sandoval had two) and came up with a fumble recovery but it only resulted in a 1 7-7 victory over the winless Downey High football team Friday night in Modesto. Sandoval, the leading Buffalo ball carrier with 72 yards on 20 carries, scored the first MHS touchdown on a 10-yard run in the second quarter. Edmundo Carrasco tallied the other TD with a six-yard run in the final period. Bryan Hemman kicked both extra points to go with a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter.

The East Union High soccer team cruised to a 6-1 VOL triumph over Sonora High on Monday afternoon. Shane Williams had two goals for the Lancers, while Eric Denton, Roem Clemons, Micah McDaniel and Justin Coenenberg scored one each.

League-leading Oakdale High stampeded past the Manteca High soccer squad 8-1 in a contest at Lincoln Park on Monday afternoon. Tony Gonzales converted a penalty kick for the only Buffalo score.

Sierra High tennis coach Dan Freeman was particularly proud of singles player Melissa Mendoza, who recorded the only point for the Timberwolves in a 14-1 loss to Manteca High on Monday. The Lady Buffs got singles sweeps from Andrea Belloumini and Min-Li Weng.

Meanwhile in Stockton, East Union High showed improvement in a 12.5-2.5 loss to Bear Creek High. Sophomore Nicole Zacharias took a win in singles and the EU tandem of Jennifer Sutton-Lorna Nelson scored point s in doubles play.

The Manteca High volleyball  team won the first game and had game points in both the second and third before dropping a marathon 15-7, 14-16, 14-16, 15-13, 13-15 match Tuesday at Bear Creek High. Beth Cochran had 12 kills to lead a balanced MHS attack. She also served for 20 points with seven aces.

East Union High’s Dan Gohlke finished 37 seconds behind the winner Thursday to place second in the VOL cross-country championships at Angels Camp. Gohlke clocked in at 16:01. Manteca High’s John Kelly was third at 16:41. Lancer sophomore Connie Souza raised a few eyebrows, finishing second in the girls’ race.

Oakdale High remained undefeated in the VOL volleyball race with a gutty 14-16, 15-11, 15-4, 13-15, 15-9 win over second-place East Union High in Oakdale Thursday night. At the net, the Lady Lancers’ (9-3 VOL) Lisa Noceti pounded down 16 kills and Tiffany Mattos had 13 more.

  

10 years ago: October 28, 2004 – Celebrating its final regular-season home match and senior night at Winter Gym Wednesday, Manteca High’s volleyball team upended Weston Ranch High 20-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-17. Coach Jessica Harty started an all-senior lineup with Trisha Clements rolling up seven straight service points in the final game. The Lady Buffs are now 13-7 overall.

Sophomore Jorge Belmonte scored both goals for Manteca High as the Buffaloes took a 2-1 soccer win over host Sonora High on Monday. Coach Debbie Kohl’s boys are now 6-11-0 on the season.

Manteca High’s Jenny Beggs finished with an 83 in the Valley Oak League golf tournament Monday at the Diablo Grande Golf Course in Patterson. Casey Heupel and Marjorie Langdon each shot a 93 as Sierra High just missed qualifying for the Sections. East Union High’s Ellen Parker carded a 101.

East Union High’s tennis team closed the VOL season on a strong note Friday with a 15-0 win over Weston Ranch High. Lancers’ No. 1 singles player Angelica Dill-James continued her pursuit of the VOL regular-season MVP with a trio of 6-0 wins. She improved her record to 35-1.