Earning their stripes! Flag clinches playoff berth with sweep of Tigers

Manteca High senior center Isabella Chavez snaps the ball to her quarterback at Woodward Park on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, in a Valley Oak League game against Patterson. (Hanna Palacio/The Tower)

By ROBERT NELSON & ELIJAH STEVENSON
The Tower 

With 20 seconds left in the game, a Patterson wide receiver caught the ball up the sideline, slipped a tackle and looked to score the game-tying touchdown and silence the crowd at Manteca’s Woodward Park. 

As she cut inside, Manteca High middle linebacker Sydney Snyder closed in and pulled her flag, much to the delight of head coach William Riddick.  

Kalaja Reece on the line in her stance waiting on the ball to be snapped at Woodward Park on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. (Hanna Palacio/The Tower)

“That’s game!” Riddick screamed on the sideline nearest the tackle. 

The Manteca High girls flag football team picked up a must-win on Tuesday, Oct. 22, holding off Patterson, 18-12. With a home-and-home sweep of the Tigers, Manteca High clinched a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth in its inaugural season.

The Buffaloes travel to Woodcreek of Roseville on Tuesday, Oct. 29, for their first round contest.

Manteca made history with a pair of nail-biting victories over Patterson, the newest member of the Valley Oak League. The Tigers were a formidable opponent. Leanna Nzoule led Patterson in receiving yards with an average of 65.6 yards per game, total touchdowns (12) and interceptions (10).

Manteca has some weapons of its own, such as Antonique Jones, Audrey Villanueva, Kashea Reese, and Keira McCulley.  

Each played well in the Buffaloes’ 18-12 win over the Tigers at Woodward Park.

Villanueva had a total of 10 rushes for 88 yards, while Jones had 33 yards on five completions. Reese had a dominant defensive game, pulling six flags to go with one interception late in the game to help the Buffaloes take momentum back. McCulley had two completions for 42 yards.