Manteca High’s varsity football team faces Tracy at the Bulldogs’ Wayne Schneider Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, and the Buffaloes know they must beat No. 2 to be No. 1.

No. 2, Depray Celestine, will be the focus of Manteca’s notoriously stubborn defense, a unit that led the program to a 27-22 win over Tracy a year ago.

Celestine ran for 45 yards and a score in last year’s loss as a junior and is back after rumbling to 297 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in Tracy’s 27-24 victory over Los Banos last week.

“When you make Los Banos look slow, you know you are fast,” Manteca coach Eric Reis said. “Depray is just a tremendous ball player, definitely a guy you have to know where he is at all times.”

Reis knows the Bulldogs, a larger school with a rich tradition, will be just the test the Buffaloes need heading into league play against the likes of Oakdale and Sierra.

“Hopefully, our preseason will prepare us to start off league real strong and quick,” Reis said. “Tracy is a first-rate program, and this game is a real good measuring stick for both of us.”

The Bulldogs are fresh off a 7-4 season and Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoff berth. Both top runners a year ago (Celestine and fullback Jordan Strong) are back to lead an offense that rolled to 374 yards rushing and 189 passing last week.

Quarterback Casey Wichman tossed two touchdowns in a 6-for-8 performance and won’t shy from big-play passes to Celestine, who racked up 87 yards receiving against Los Banos.

“It’s tough because Celestine is good, but they have a lot of other guys who can contribute, including a really hard runner in (Strong),” Reis said.

Sierra (1-0) at Granada (1-0)

If Sierra shares anything in common with its opponent, it’s a preference for sparing talented running backs from heavy action in the season opener.

While Sierra ran starter Jared Daniels just seven times for 138 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-0 win over Lathrop, Granada awarded just six carries to George Atkinson III in a 38-14 win over Antioch. Atkinson made them count, speeding to 143 yards and four touchdowns.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

East Union (0-1) at Bear Creek (0-1)

After showing considerable offensive talent in a loss to Beyer last week, the Lancers will be eager to test their skills against a Bear Creek team that surrendered to Tokay 54-6.

The Bruins gave up more than 300 yards rushing and 99 yards passing. Bear Creek’s Nick Taylor was 6-for-15 for 11 yards.

 Lathrop (0-1) at Weston Ranch (0-1)

The Spartans will have their hands full with an athletic program looking to rebound from a 2-8 season. Jason Steele scored a touchdown for the Cougars last week in their 38-14 loss to Calaveras, and quarterback Ronnie Collins had a short scoring pass.

Kickoff is at 7:15 p.m.