Next man up.

Looking to end a nine-game losing skid to Central Catholic on Friday night, Manteca figured to employ sophomore standout Nikko Juarez in that endeavor.

Juarez, with 787 rushing yards for the Buffaloes in their first four games, managed 33 yards on eight carries before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.

Then it became offense by committee for the Buffaloes, who rolled to a 31-14 Valley Oak League homecoming victory at Lathrop High’s Bennie Gatto Field.

“We finally got that monkey off of our back,” Manteca coach Mark Varnum said. “We have outplayed them before, have been better than them before and done everything but finish with the win.

“We finally did it. We played a clean game on both sides, and obviously we couldn’t be happier. We control our own destiny now.”

Maava Tialavea (20 carries, 155 yards) was one of many who stepped up for the Buffaloes (1-0 VOL, 4-1 overall). He got Manteca on the board with a 53-yard touchdown run barely two minutes into the game.

“First, I would like to thank my line,” Tialavea said. “Nothing happens without them.

“I also want to thank God. He has always been there for the ups and downs.

“We just came out with the win. Everyone put their heart and soul into it. We were 0-9 against them, and I guess we ended that now.”

Isaiah White helped keep things rolling when he blocked a Raiders punt later in the first period.

“I just knew I had to get there and block that punt,” White said. “So that would set the tone for the game.”

Quinn Martinez (four receptions 45 yards) had big plays on both offense and defense for the Buffaloes. With 7:36 left in the first half, he snagged an interception. With 7:52 left in the game ,he capped the night’s scoring on a 4-yard run to the right side, sneaking into the end zone just inside the pylon.

“One of our biggest players Nikko (Juarez) was out,” Martinez said. “So I had to step up, play my game and make some big-time plays.

“And we came out with the victory.”

Manteca’s Ruben Moreno scored a pair of touchdowns on a 1-yard run late in the third quarter and with a 6-yard pass from Owen Gully (5 of 7 passing, 46 yards) with 8:30 left in the first half.

“I knew when Nikko Juarez went down I had to step up,” Moreno said. “We have been preparing for this team. We knew it was going to be a dog fight, and we came out swinging.

“We all know we had to step up, the O-line too. They played a big part in our running game and we couldn’t do anything out there without them.”

Elijah Stevenson chipped in 62 yards on eight carries, and Cameron Navarette added a 29-yard field goal in the first period.

White paced the Manteca defense with nine tackles followed by Eddie Anthony (eight tackles), Joshua Mellion (four) and three apiece for Xyloh Kuresa and Mathieu Evans.

Kayden McHenry directed the offense for Central Catholic (1-1, 3-3) going 11 of 19 passing for 64 yards with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Stewart in the third quarter and an interception. Chase Perino (three receptions, 39 yards) got the Raiders on the board with a 67-yard touchdown scamper late in the first period.

The Buffaloes travel across town next Friday to face Sierra at 7 p.m.