Sixty years ago, on September 16, 1954, Manteca High put on the final polishing touches to their offense as they readied themselves for their season football opener against Hayward High Saturday night at Pennebaker Field. Coach Pete Denevi is counting on back Monte Kinsley for a valuable few yards. He has shown well in practice and, with a year’s experience under his belt, could develop into one of the league’s best fullbacks. Others showing well during the past week were guards Ed Morley and Ed Abatangle.



In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:

100 years ago: September 11, 1914 – Lathrop defeated the Manteca Merchants last Sunday at Lathrop in a 9 to8 baseball game full of many thrills.



40 years ago: September 12, 1974 – Only once in the short seven-year grid history of East Union High have the Lancers managed to win a season opener. Back in 1968, EU took a 20-13 non-league decision from Sonora High. Tonight, the Lancers motor down the road to Escalon High to tangle with the Cougars. EU coach Vern Gebhardt figures to start an all-senior lineup on offense. The probable starters: ends, Mario Silveira and Mitch Ahles; tackles: Ray Miller and Steve Corbett; guards: Louie Segura and John Cargile; center: Terry Green; and a backfield made up of Harold Hubbard at quarterback and Mark Trout, Dana Taylor and Doug Swift at running backs.

Traditionally, Tracy and Manteca High School football teams have been evenly matched in their long series which dates back to 1925. Such will be the case this evening. Buffalo coach Walker Vick will go with Vince Cowan, a junior, at quarterback, but will have three seniors carrying the ball: Bill Ruble, Marty Mathis and Alan Bennett. Ends will be David Simpson and Bill Pinol; tackles: Mike Bennett and David Dadasovich; guards: Bill Buhk and Ed Vogel and Eric Olson at center.



30 years ago: September 10, 1984 – Behind improved serving and receiving, the defending VOL champion Manteca High volleyball team captured a victory in its home opener Tuesday night, whipping Beyer High of Modesto 15-5, 15-12 at Winter Gym. Junior Michelle Smith served for six straight points.

With seven-time national champion Tony Perez leading the charge, the Manteca High cross-country team swept the first four places in the three-mile race and breezed to an easy 18-41 victory over Lincoln High at American Legion Park in Stockton. The 16 year-old Perez took the race with a 16:46 clocking. He was followed by teammates Ron Mills and Mike Rosendin.

Singles player Julie Davis captured three matches and East Union High relied heavily on dominant doubles play as the Lady Lancers whipped Sonora High 12-3 in VOL tennis action Tuesday. In doubles action, it was a clean sweep for Coach Jackie Flowers’ girls. Hildy Viera and Marlene Murphy took a pair of victories, as did Charlene Murphy and Lori Callicoat.

East Union High quarterback Richard Wyrsch completed just three passes, all for touchdowns, and lineman Ron Inderbitzen spent most of the evening lurking the opposing team’s backfield. The combination of the two forces gave the Lancers the push it needed to score 20 second-half points and level Franklin High 20-6 in a home opener at Guss Schmiedt Field last night. Ricky Rusconi caught two of Wyrsch’s scoring aerials and Brent Blevins gathered in the other one. Billy Harris had a two-point conversion.



20 years ago: September 10, 1994 – Manteca High senior Joey Sandoval rushed for 90 yards on 17 carries and scored touchdowns on both offense and defense Friday as the Buffaloes neatly dissected Modesto High 38-14 in a non-conference game at Guss Schmiedt Field. Manteca quarterback Bryan Lucas, a 6-5, 205-pound junior, found Leland Campbell on a 21-yard scoring strike in the Buffs’ first possession of the game. Bryan Hemman kicked five extra points, a 28-yard field goal and returned an intercepted pass 70 yards for a touchdown.

East Union High pulled out a thrilling 21-20 victory over Beyer High Friday night at Modesto’s Johansen Stadium. With 1:43 remaining in the game, EU quarterback Matt Burgess found Jeff Abrew with a 62-yard TD pass. Ben Gushea then kicked the PAT, his third of the night. Abrew caught six passes for 141 yards during the game, including a sensational 12-yard scoring grab in the second quarter. Kris Hensley was the leading Lancer rusher with 105 yards on 12 carries, including a 24-yard TD scamper in the third quarter.

Eric Denton fired in back-to-back goals within one minute of each other, and Justin Coenenberg scored two in the second half as the East Union High soccer team opened VOL play with a 4-1 win at Bear Creek High on Monday.

East Union High’s volleyball team didn’t give up more than two points at a time until the third game as they claimed a 15-11, 15-6, 15-13 victory over Hughson High Tuesday. Lisa Noceti had eight kills and served for 10 points, six coming on aces, for Coach Mike Morenzone’s girls.

Manteca High’s top singles player, Andrea Belluomini, remained undefeated in VOL tennis play with three wins Thursday as the Lady Buffs scored a 9.5-3.5 win over Tracy’s Merrill West High. Belluomini improved to 15-0 in league play and MHS upped its league record to 3-2.

Bryan Francis clocked a 13:34 time to lead all finishers as the Sierra High cross-country team opened its season Wednesday with a dual meet against Laguna Creek High of Elk Grove, another first-year school. Timberwolf coach Mike Rosendin was pleased with the performance of Francis, who came over from Manteca High where he ran last year.



10 years ago: September 16, 2004 - East Union High notched its first win of the 2004 soccer season by knocking off host Sonora High 1-0 yesterday. Lancer sophomore sensation Sam Valencia scored the lone goal of the game midway through the opening half on a breakaway. EU is now 1-3-2 overall.

Casey Heupel’s 44 led the Sierra High golf team to a 255-257 win over Sonora High on the Wildcats’ home course yesterday.

Kimiko De La Vega went undefeated Tuesday to help the Manteca High tennis team take down rival Sierra High 10-5 in a home VOL match. Ashley Hammarstrom notched a pair of the T’wolf points.

Sierra High cross-country runner Jimmy Elam paced himself to a 16:33 time to win the Sierra Invitational Saturday at Tuolumne River Regional Park in Modesto. Enrique Jimenez led Manteca High to a seventh place finish. Cherise McNair paced the Sierra High girls to fifth place with a time of 20:06.

Manteca High took a come-from-behind 20-14 football win over Ceres High last night. Akeem Wade ran for 146 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run. Sam Miller tossed a 64-yard scoring pass to Brian Cross and Michael Turner returned a Ceres punt 60 yards for the final Buffalo score.

Anjelica Dill-James turned in the most dominant performance of the match and the No. 1 doubles team swept during the East Union High tennis team’s 8-7 win over visiting Manteca High on Thursday. Dill-James swept her three matches, while the doubles teams of Angelica Gonzales-Alyssa Toone and Desiree Haroldsen-Ashley Atkins won all their matches.