Wide receiver honors mom: ‘Only one that believes in me’
Manteca High junior wide receiver Santana Stevenson recently joined the “Ride Along with Levi Perez” podcast to discuss his playing career and greatest motivation, as well as the team’s playoff hopes. (Photo contributed)
By GABRIEL MARTINEZ
The Tower
While the Manteca High School football team has key players like Kaden MacDannald, Bryson Davis, and Tommy Perea, to name just a few, Santana Stevenson is a player to look out for.
The junior wide receiver may not stuff the box score with catches and touchdowns every Friday evening, largely due to Manteca’s run heavy offense, but he plays his role to the best of his ability as a blocking receiver.
Stevenson weighs 155 pounds and is listed as 6 feet tall.
As a freshman, Santana ranked fourth on the football team with four total touchdowns through eight games. He also played safety and recorded 21 total tackles, one tackle for a loss with two fumble recoveries.
During the 2022 season, Stevenson shined for the junior varsity team, leading the team in receiving yards per game with 45.0 and tied second for total touchdowns with four through seven games.
This fall, though Stevenson has primarily been used as a decoy or a blocker for Manteca’s running backs, he is third on the team in receiving yards per game with 11.7.
PowerPlay sports reporter Levi Perez recently had Stevenson as a guest on his “Ride Along” podcast. The two journeyed through Stevenson’s past, exploring his rise in the game of football and the various roles he’s played over the years. They also looked at Manteca High’s chances of repeating as Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs. The Buffaloes (7-3) are a No. 4 seed in the Division II postseason and received a first-round bye.
Stevenson believes this team is a special group, despite its struggles over the final two weeks of the Valley Oak League season. Manteca lost a heart-breaking 39-35 decision at Central Catholic, a game that was decided on the final play, and then held on to defeat Oakdale in their finale.
“Our guys are hungry,” Stevenson said.
He won’t have to worry about support. Stevenson says his entire playing career has been about one thing — honoring his mother, his No. 1 fan.
“She’s the only one that believes in me,” he said.
Whenever Stevenson feels like he won’t be able to get through something or feels as if he isn’t playing his best, he knows his mom is there for him. He tries to make her proud each time he takes the field … to see a smile on her face. You can get to know more about Santana Stevenson by checking out “Ride Along with Levi Perez” on YouTube at MHSBuffTV.