Quinn Martinez of Manteca gets tackled by an Oakdale player during a Valley Oak League championship matchup played Friday in Oakdale. Photo: Isai Gutierrez.
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A slow start turned into a second-half statement as Manteca rolled past Oakdale on Halloween night, 40-26, clinching back-to-back Valley Oak League titles and the top seed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs. The Buffaloes overcame a slow start and used explosive second-half plays to complete the comeback and finish the regular season unbeaten.
“We wanted to defend our belt,” Manteca head coach Mark Varnum said. “It took us 12 years to get that VOL title back, and we weren’t going to give it back to anybody.”
Oakdale struck first, powering down the field on its opening drive as senior Chase Lopez broke through for a rushing touchdown, paired up with Richard Flores’ two-point conversion to make it an 8-0 lead. Soon after, safety Peyton Wallace made a big defensive play, intercepting Manteca QB Owen Gully early in the first quarter to keep the momentum on Oakdale’s side.
The Mustangs continued to move the ball behind Wes Burford, one of the state’s rushing leaders who shredded multiple tackles to slip free and sprinted for a 52-yard touchdown run to put the score at 16-0. Burford had piled up 121 rushing yards and two scores before halftime. Flores added a few tough carries before exiting with an injury, leaving the workload to Burford and Lopez. Just before halftime, Oakdale capitalized on a Manteca punting miscue, a fumbled snap that hit the turf in the end zone for a safety, to take a 26-21 lead.
Despite the early mistakes, Manteca refused to fold. Gully went 8-of-11 for 109 yards and one touchdown in the first half, highlighted by a 58-yard touchdown strike to Quinn Martinez, who finished with 78 yards on four receptions before leaving with an injury. Junior RB Nikko Juarez ripped off a 41-yard touchdown run to get the Buffaloes on the board, and Xyloh Kuresa delivered a defensive spark with a five-yard pick-six that kept Manteca within reach.
The second half belonged entirely to Manteca. Gully finished the second half with 2-of-3 for 129 yards and two touchdowns, first hitting Jaylin Harris for a 68-yard bomb to flip the lead to 27-26 towards the end of the third, then, after a turnover on downs early in the fourth quarter, he connected with Jayden Harris, Jaylin’s brother, for a 61-yard touchdown strike that widened the lead to 33-26. Juarez later delivered the dagger with a 50-yard touchdown run, his second of the night, as the Buffaloes’ offense caught fire and the crowd erupted.
Despite the score shifting in Manteca’s favor, Oakdale refused to go quietly, stringing together an 18-play drive that chewed up nearly the entire third quarter leaving only about 1:30 for the Buffaloes.
Oakdale’s powerful ground game was stalled in the second half, with Burford limited to 55 yards on 20 carries, while Manteca’s defense delivered the final blow with a late interception that allowed the Buffs to kneel out the clock and celebrate the 40-26 win, holding the Mustangs scoreless after halftime.
“We fought as hard as we could,” Burford said. “Defensively, I think we picked it up a lot this game, I’m proud of our defense tonight. I’m excited to see where we go (in the playoffs) … Respect to Manteca, they took the VOL title, and that’s good for them. They’re a very good team, and I hope they do well in the playoffs.”
The two teams will be in different playoff divisions in the SJS.
