High School Showcase: Manteca HC Mark Varnum

Manteca HC Mark Varnum joins the High School Showcase to discuss the Buffaloes’ winning streak, offensive standouts and 100th season.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Oct 8, 2026, 5:00 AM

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EAST BERNARD, TEXAS - AUGUST 28: A general view of the game between the East Bernard Brahmas and th...

A general view of the game between the East Bernard Brahmas and the Edna Cowboys on August 28, 2020 in East Bernard, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

High school football season is in full swing, bringing Friday night games to schools all throughout the Sacramento region. With plenty of potential future NFL and collegiate talent, there’s plenty to watch locally.

Sactown Sports is expanding its coverage of the local high school football scene with the ‘Sactown Sports High School Showcase’, a weekly feature highlighting top teams, players, and matchups from around the area. Each week, The Drive Guys with Whitey Gleason and Allen Stiles will be joined by a reporter, coach, or another voice connected to the local football scene to get the latest insight.

For the latest edition of the High School Showcase, The Drive Guys were joined by Manteca High head football coach Mark Varnum, whose Buffaloes have put together a four-game winning streak while continuing the program’s 100th season.

Manteca has traditionally been known for a physical style of football centered around running the ball and playing defense.

That identity hasn’t gone anywhere, but Varnum believes this year’s team has more ways to attack.

“A lot of people say, ‘Manteca just runs the ball,’” Varnum said. “But [we’re] really blessed this year with a couple big-time receivers in Jaylin and Jayden Harris and our quarterback Brody Carabello. He’s been slinging it.”

Carabello has given the Buffaloes another dimension both through the air and with his legs, allowing Manteca to add more variety to an offense that still features Nikko Juarez in the backfield.

Varnum called Juarez “one of the best backs in the section” and described him as the offense’s workhorse.

“Now that we have those other options as well, it’s a tough matchup for anybody,” Varnum said.

The Buffaloes have also seen a young defense begin to develop after replacing 10 starters from last season. Manteca faced strong competition early in the year, something Varnum believes helped prepare that group for the current stretch.

“We played some monsters early on, but it kind of toughened us up,” Varnum said. “They’re starting to figure things out.”

That growth comes at an important time with Manteca preparing for one of its biggest matchups of the season against Central Catholic.

Varnum has plenty of respect for Central Catholic and longtime head coach Roger Canepa, but a lot is at stake when the two programs meet.

“We know the league titles are at stake, seedings are at stake, and this is one of the biggest matchups around,” Varnum said.

The season carries some additional significance beyond what happens in the standings.

Manteca is celebrating its 100th season of football, which included the introduction of the program’s “Herd of Honor” to recognize some of the top names in its history.

Varnum pointed to former Buffaloes including Jacob De Jesus, Blake Nichelson and Paul Wiggin when discussing some of the talent that has come through the program.

“It’s a special one for the school and the community, and a real special one for this particular team,” Varnum said.

Varnum hopes some members of the current group can eventually add their names alongside those who came before them.

For now, the focus remains on continuing a four-game winning streak and another important test against Central Catholic.

Listen to and watch Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys with Kevin “Whitey” Gleason and Allen Stiles, airing weekdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. PT on Sactown Sports.