Thirty years ago, on the afternoon of September 24, 1982, neither rain, nor mud, nor Tokay High could stop the arm of East Union High quarterback Rick Inderbitzen in the Tokay Stadium. The 6-3, 182-pound senior simply passed 26 times for 185 yards and all four EU touchdowns, leading the Lancers to a 26-12 non-league victory. Playing literally in a mud bowl, the EU offensive linemen played wipers, allowing Inderbitzen to find Albert Tanghal three times and Troy Hansen once in the end zone.
In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:
10 years ago: October 2, 2002 – Sierra High’s volleyball team fell to the pressures of the host heavy-hitting Sonora High squad on Tuesday. The scores were 3-15, 1-15, 12-15. Chyanne Jacomini served up five points, four digs, three kills and three blocks in a losing cause.
The Manteca High volleyball team suffered a three-game loss to Atwater’s Buhach Colony High on Tuesday by scores of 12-15, 12-15, 3-15. The Buffaloes are now 10-3 on the season. Megan Vieira racked up two aces and three kills for MHS.
In a windy game between cross-town rivals, Manteca High hosted Sierra High in soccer action on Tuesday. The Timberwolves edged the Buffaloes by a 3-2 count. Anthony King had a pair of goals for the Buffaloes, but SHS freshman Anastacio Avila scored twice and Joe Pires added the winner at 22 minutes into the second half for the T’wolf kickers.
Taking their opponent to four games, the East Union High volleyball team dropped a match to host Oakdale High on Tuesday. The scores were 4-15, 3-15, 15-11, 15-2. Michelle Swift served an ace and provided 12 assists for the Lancers.
Manteca High’s golf team putted its way to a 278-367 win over Los Banos High on Tuesday. The undefeated Lady Buffs were paced by Jenny Hummel’s 48.
East Union High’s golfers visited Sonora High on Tuesday and took a 274-308 win from the Wildcats. Erica Yoshino continues to lead Coach Gene Mullen’s swingers as she posted a 38.
East Union High’s tennis team lost a 9-6 match to Sonora High on Tuesday. EU singles players Kim Taberna and Anjelica Dill-James won all of their matches to account for the Lancers’ six points.
Marti Teunissen became the only tennis player in the Valley Oak League with an undefeated record. Her performance topped Sierra High’s 11-4 win over Los Banos High on Tuesday. The T’wolf doubles teams went unbeaten as Sara Sickler-Nicole Sanchez led the action.
Manteca High’s football winning streak dating back to the 2000 season came to an end on Friday as visiting Vanden High of Fairfield delivered a 12-0 loss to the Bufffaloes. Brad Bailie was the top rusher for MHS with 41 yards.
East Union High’s football team fell 57-26 to host Amador Valley High last night in Pleasanton. Eric Cooper ran for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Lancers. Courtney Smith added a 56-yard scoring run and Ron Brazil scored from a yard out in the EU effort. James Boykin kicked two extra points.
Sierra High ground out a 14-6 victory against Ripon High last Friday night to notch a 2-1 preseason record going into the first week of VOL football action. Defensive standout Jovan Holloway struck first for the T’wolves by picking up a Ripon fumble and running it back 48 yards to score late in the first quarter. Sophomore quarterback BJ Danley passed to Erik Manuta for the other SHS score. Andre Butler led the T’wolf rushers with 104 yards on 17 carries.
Jumping out to a first-half lead, the East Union High soccer team went on to score a 7-1 win over visiting Los Banos High on Thursday. Ryan Fleckenstein had a hat trick with three goals for the Lancers, while Paul Falconi scored twice. Humberto Garibay and Joe Rocha completed the EU scoring with single goals.
East Union and Sierra High cross-country teams competed Thursday against Oakdale High at Woodward Park in Modesto. In the girls action, the T’wolves downed the Lancers 20-35, and Oakdale was defeated by Sierra 15-46 and EU 15-50. Freshman Cherise McNair was the winner for the Sierra girls with a 22:00 time. Diana Cuevas was the top finisher for EU. Jimmy Elam won the boys competition with a 17:50 time, with EU’s Caleb Mack coming in third at 18:42. SHS beat EU 15-50.
EU’s Erica Yoshino was again the low scorer as the Lancer golfers edged Sierra High 289-326 on Thursday. Yoshino shot a 45 on the Manteca Park course. She edged out Sierra’s Casey Heupel, who had a 46.
20 years ago: September 29, 1992 – Though not one of their best performances, the Manteca High boys cross-country team still came out with a pair of VOL victories on Monday in Stockton. Paced by Hector Leija, MHS downed Bear Creek High 25-30 and Livingston High 18-37 at Oak Grove Park to boost its league mark to 4-0. Leija captured the top spot with a time of 16:35. Though the Lady Buffs had to forfeit the girls race, Sandra Garcia turned in a stellar effort to win the actual race.
Meanwhile, the East Union High boys dropped a narrow home meet to Oakdale High, while the girls ran uncontested . In the 27-31 loss at Durham Ferry Park, the Lancers’ Martin Puente placed third in 16:40. In the girls division, EUHS (3-0) won by forfeit over the Lady Mustangs as Alicia Lyon paced the team with a 19:52 time.
The East Union High volleyball team remained perfect in the VOL (7-0 overall) by using 19 service aces to dispatch Bear Creek High 15-4, 15-9, 15-6. Diann Aufdermaur (three kills) served five consecutive aces to start game one and the Lady Lancers never looked back.
Manteca High (3-0 in VOL) used a revitalized defense to down Sonora High 11-15, 15-12, 16-14, 15-9 yesterday in Sonora. Kelli Gleaves (15 kills, three aces) led the offense.
The Manteca High tennis team mounted a modest two-game winning streak with a 9.5-5.5 win over Livingston High yesterday. The Lady Buff doubles team of Jennifer Johnson-Astrid Difuntorum was a double winner, as were Andrea Belluomini and Sarah Gavlack in singles action.
The East Union High tennis team made some progress despite a narrow 8-7 loss at Bear Creek High yesterday. “We finally won a singles set,” noted EU coach Mark Liles, referring to a win by Cathy Norman.
A tough defensive recipe by the Manteca High football team kept Los Banos High and their vaunted running back Rodney Percoats in check the entire game Friday night en route to a 17-7 victory in both teams’ VOL opener at Guss Schmiedt Field. MHS (3-1) had control of the game from start to finish with its defense. The entire Tiger offense was held to just 106 yards in the game by a tough Buff defense led by Zach Reis and Brock Hiatt. John Griggs and Cory Edwards scored the Buff TD’s on short runs and Josh Buck kicked a 31-yard field goal and two extra points.
East Union High roared out to a 25-0 lead at the half but had to survive some anxious moments to emerge with a 32-22 win over host Ceres High in the VOL grid opener for both schools last night. First half scoring showed quarterback Mike Craig passing 20 yards to Craig Bingham, Brachton Harris running 16 yards and Craig keeping the ball and scampering nine yards. Add in a couple of safeties and the Lancers were out to a big lead in the first half. Craig had a second-half touchdown on a two- yard run. He passed for 142 yards on eight completions, while Gene Ballardo was the leading EU rusher with 126 yards on 19 carries. Ballardo kicked four extra points for coach Jim Brown’s undefeated team.
1982: Tokay cant stop arm of EU Highs Rick Inderbitzen