Fifty years ago, on September 18, 1964, rolling up an impressive 273 yards on the ground, Manteca High rolled to a convincing 31-18 win over Downey High of Modesto in the season opener for both clubs. Defensive back John Tubbs intercepted a first-quarter Downey pass and rambled unmolested for 57 yards to the end zone for the first Buffalo score. In the second period, Manteca’s all-league tackle, 222-pound Rod Elam, picked a Knight fumble out of the air and ran 15 yards to score. The final MHS score of the first half came when Bob Silva raced 40 yards around left end. Lloyd Cook scored on an eight yard run in the third quarter and quarterback Tom Nascimento passed 11 yards to Larry Cary for the final TD. Don Widmer kicked the lone extra point of the evening.

In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:

60 years ago: September 23, 1954 – A hardy bunch of Hayward High Farmers corralled the Manteca High Buffaloes last Saturday night and proceeded to show them their peskiness by branding them with a 20-0 win before 2,100 fans at Pennebaker Field.

40 years ago: September 25, 1974 – Junior quarterback Ron Hamamoto came off the bench to pass for two touchdowns and engineer East Union High to a 14-0 victory over a stubborn Linden High eleven here last Friday. Workhorse Dana Taylor rolled up 176 yards on 31 carries and tossed a 26-yard pass to Mitch Ahles for a personal total of 202 yards gained for the evening. Hamamoto’s scoring tosses were for 27 yards to Mario Silveira and 20 yards to Gene Christensen. Taylor kicked both extra points. It was the first time a varsity football team had ever won their first two games of the season at EU.

Continuing its rugged pre-VOL schedule with tough teams from the SJAA, Manteca High gained its first win of the year with an impressive performance over Lincoln High. The final score was 20-0. Bill Ruble, a 190-pound senior running back, carried 20 times for 77 yards and a touchdown. Alan Bennett, the game’s leading rusher with 88 yards, and junior Moses Valdez scored the other Buffalo touchdowns. Brett Chamberlain kicked two extra points.

Manteca High’s cross-country sophomore sensation Gonzalo Aguilar ran the three-mile in 16:46 to lead the Buffaloes to a win over Ceres High.

The Manteca High tennis team finally got their season under way this week after several false starts, falling to the Oakdale High girls, 3-2.

30 years ago: September 24, 1984 – Manteca High, running against Sonora High’s cross-country team Monday at Caswell Park, achieved a rare five-way tie for first place in racking up an easy 15-48 victory. Buffalo runners Ron Mills, Mike Rosendin, Lucas Mendoza, Tony Perez and Jay Kusy all finished in 17:07.

Steve Duran snagged a six-yard touchdown pass from Pete Nelson with 23 seconds remaining in the game Friday night to give the Manteca High gridders a 14-7 non-league victory over a pesky Beyer High team at Downey Stadium in Modesto. Tim Beattie ran for 186 yards and scored the first Buffalo touchdown.

20 years ago: September 24, 1994 – East Union High jumped out to a quick 27-0 lead in the first quarter and then had to hang on to their helmets the rest of the way as the Lancers took a 34-12 football triumph over West High of Tracy on Friday. EU’s Jeff Abrew took the opening kickoff 90 yards to paydirt and later took a 54-yard scoring pass from quarterback Matt Burgess for a pair of TD’s. Chad Hadley and Eddie Moreno then ran scores in from five and 10 yards, respectively. Ben Gushea kicked four extra points.

The East Union High soccer team dropped a 4-0 decision to Oakdale High Monday after losing one of their top players to a red card 10 minutes into the match. The player was ejected for using profanity and will have to sit out the next two games, as well, EU coach Jeff Poulos said.

10 years ago: September 29, 2004 – Forward Mickael Montes made a breakaway goal inside the 64th minute and eventually helped Sierra High shore up a 2-0 Valley Oak League win over Manteca High in soccer action on Tuesday. The Buffaloes controlled the first half, but couldn’t  score. The Timberwolves’ Isaia Lopez added to the margin of victory with a goal of his own. Sierra net-minder Mic Scotland registered the shutout with three saves.

The East Union High football team lost its final preseason game, 35-6 against state-ranked Hilmar High Friday at Dino Cunial Field. The Lancers, who were held to just 87 rushing yards, had Erian Johnson’s 51-yard touchdown jaunt with 4:47 remaining in the game.

Richmond High was out-manned, out –classed and out-played by Manteca High’s football team as the Buffaloes settled for a 41-0 win at Guss Schmiedt Field on Friday. Sammy Miller completed 10 of 13 passes for 116 yards, all in the first half. There was a running clock in the last two quarters. Akeem Wade scored on a two-yard run as Miler had two scoring passes in the game. Wade was the leading rusher with 93 yards. John Williams kicked six extra points.

Returning all-area forward Edgar Garibay scored four goals to lead the East Union High soccer team to a 6-1 win over Weston Ranch High on Thursday. Omar Virgen added two more goals to the Lancer total.