On any given Friday night, dozens of high school students from Manteca filter through the drive-thru at Jack in the Box for their mouth-watering tacos and plentiful discount menu.

And there’s a good chance that some of them that will be going through this weekend will be students that don’t realize that their teacher is in a national commercial for the popular fast-food company.

In addition to appearing in an episode of the USA Network’s water challenge show Cannonball on Thursday, East Union High long-term substitute Dalton “Dutch” Ell – a Pennsylvania native that came out of California to further his education and also his dreams of being in show business – has appeared this month in a series of advertisements for Jack in the Box’s spicy chicken strips.

In the commercial spots, which are available to view on the company’s social media accounts and channels, Ell can be seen dribbling a basketball as he drives towards a hoop and ultimately gets pinned against the backboard.

One can assume that the commercial – which remind us that the spicy chicken strips are not yet back at participating franchise locations – is part of a larger social media blitz that will announce their arrival relatively soon.

The commercial was filmed recently as evidenced by the fact that Ell is wearing a mask as he drives down the court.

A call to the local Jack in the Box franchises to ask whether they realized that one of the stars of their new commercial was actually a teacher in town was not immediately returned.

There are three Jack in the Box locations.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.