Forty years ago, on November 15, 1976, Manteca High scored twice in the final eight minute s to stop East Union High 31-22 before an overflow crowd of 6,100 at Guss Schmiedt Field. The Buffaloes finished the season at 7-3, while the Lancers end the season at 6-4. Buffalo junior Brad Steele rushed for 130 yards on 25 carries and scored a touchdown and a pair of important two-point conversions. His 1976 output was exactly 1,300 yards. Lancer tailback James Tokmo gained 160 yards on only 20 carries to become only the third EU runner to gain 1,000 yards in a single season. He joins an elite group which includes Dana Taylor and Doug Swift from the Lancers’ Valley Oak League title year of 1974. Tokmo finished the season with 1,064 yards. Scoring for the Buffs had Jerry Mattos catching touchdown passes from Bob O’Rourke for 15 and 40 yards and Steele scoring from 14 yards out. O’Rourke passed to Pete Duenas for another two-point conversion and Jeff Silveira kicked one. Tokmo scored the first EU touchdown and Jeff Von Essen and Miles Cardoza each tallied one on two-yard runs. Steve Snyder kicked two conversions and Von Essen ran for a two-pointer.
In other sports stories
from the Bulletin files:
10 years ago: November 11, 2006 – The East Union High girls’ basketball team tipped off the season with a 57-14 rout of host Hilmar High on Tuesday evening. Christin Gowan finished with 13 points and seven assists, while Rashonne Founts registered 11 points.
Melanie Promes was named the Most Valuable volleyball player at the Manteca High fall sports social Tuesday night. Other MVP’s were Alexa Palva (tennis) and Jorge Belmonte and Oscar Paredes (soccer).
A big play on offense, followed by big plays on defense and special teams led to Manteca High surging to a 41-14 win over Lincoln High of Lincoln Friday night at Guss Schmiedt Field in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV football playoffs. The undefeated Buffaloes were led by Andre Patterson’s scoring runs of 89 and seven yards, while Ruben Cedano, Jared Acaya and Johnny Golden each tallied a TD. Patterson racked up 155 total yards in the game. The visiting Zebras trailed 21-0 before the first quarter ended.
20 years ago: November 16, 1996 –The East Union High football team ended a season of frustrations with a 23-14 victory over Manteca High on Friday night at the East Union stadium. Both teams finished with identical records—2-8 overall and 2-5 in the VOL. Coach Jim Brown’s EU defense, led by Chad Rich, forced six Buffalo turnovers. Kurt Konicek caught a six-yard scoring pass from Andy Walker for the first EU touchdown of the game. Other Lancer scores were by Adam Rabusin on a seven-yard run and by Greg Murray with a 27-yard scamper. Walker passed to Murray for a pair of extra points, while Rabusin ran for two more and Adam Honzell kicked one over.
30 years ago: November 16, 1986 – East Union High fell victim to Ponderosa High and saw its volleyball season come to an abrupt end in a 15-13, 2-15, 5-15, 7-15 first-round loss at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoff tournament Saturday in Shingle Springs. A flurry of blocks and spikes courtesy of Kelli Horton and a touch of fine serving by Carey Pulliam got the Lancers the first-game win.
Manteca High’s Leslie Gaynor was named the VOL’s co-Most Valuable Player in tennis, while her younger sister, Katie, and teammate Amy Kent took first-team honors. Also, East Union High’s Debbie McCoy and twin sisters Marlene and Charlene Murphy were named to the all-VOL team.
After holding Downey High for one half of play, Manteca High found it harder to keep up the tempo in the second half as the Lady Knights pulled away for a decisive 64-42 win over the Lady Buffs in the girls basketball season opener for both schools. Joette Lucas netted 13 points to lead Manteca’s scoring.
Mesa Verde High, explaining by action why it’s the state’s fifth-ranked Division II football team, utilized its speed and three costly Manteca High turnovers to dismantle the VOL champion Buffaloes 40-8 Friday night at San Juan High Stadium in Citrus Heights. The crushing loss ends Manteca High’s season at 8-3. The Buffs fumbled four times, losing one, and quarterback Kevin Wentworth was intercepted twice.
40 years ago: November 17, 1976 – An elated Manteca High volleyball team closed the season last week by pulling a major upset over East Union High. MHS took the match 15-13, 3-15, 18-16. Outstanding Lady Buff players were Vicki Allen, Karen Steves, Renee Sutti and Danielle Sutti.
Eight local high school players, the largest-ever contingent from Manteca, were named to the all-VOL football team. Topping the list from Manteca High were linemen Jeff Watson and Tony Cotta, along with defensive back Ray Quaresma and running back Brad Steele. For EU, halfback James Tokmo headed the all-leaguers, while linebacker Bob Mejorado, center Marlon Hughes and offensive tackle Jim Walls were honored.
An era in VOL cross-country racing came to an end this week when Alex Henderson officially called it quits. Henderson, in 13 years as mentor of Manteca High harriers, has picked up 12 league championships. The ex-Olympic runner and one-time NCAA champion and record-holder in the two-mile started teaching at Manteca High in 1963.
50 years ago: November 16, 1966 – Capitalizing on a fumbled hike on a Manteca High conversion attempt, Sonora High went on to successfully kick their extra point and edge the Buffaloes, 7 to 6 in a non-league defensive battle Thursday night. Frank Teicheira scored the lone Buffalo touchdown on a one-yard plunge.
60 years ago: November 22, 1956 – The Manteca High Buffaloes dropped their final game of the 1956 season Friday to Burlingame High, 14 to 13, the visitors winning by a conversion kick in the third quarter. Manteca finishes the season with a six-win, three-loss mark.
70 years ago: November 21, 1946 – In their last game of the season, the Manteca High Buffaloes were defeated by Tracy High by a score of 18 to 0 at Tracy last Friday night.
