Nikko Juarez was used sparingly on Friday, and it turned out he didn’t need to play at all.

With its star sophomore running back nursing a shoulder injury, Manteca steamrolled rival Sierra 60-21 at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

“That’s obviously a big (loss) for our team, and that’s someone we look to to score a lot for us,” Manteca junior receiver/cornerback Quinn Martinez said of Juarez. “At the same time, that allows us to open up our playbook and show all the talent that we have.”

Martinez helped carry the load and made the most of his few touches, scoring four touchdowns in different ways — an 18-yard run, 90-yard kickoff return, 26-yard catch, 69-yard pick-six — all in the first half.

“We have a lot of weapons. When guys have an opportunity, they have to make the most of it and he did that big time tonight,” Manteca coach Mark Varnum said. “We’ll see who it is next week. The best teams have guys who are fighting to be the dude, and we have a couple guys who are definitely doing that.”

Elijah Stevenson took over as the lead tailback, finishing with 195 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. And that’s with a 62-yard touchdown run erased by a holding penalty.

“We do have lots of weapons, but with Nikko hurt, I know I’m a dog and that I need to step up and do my part,” Stevenson said.

The Buffaloes (2-0 Valley Oak League, 5-1 overall) had 10 different ball carriers combine for 407 yards. Kyrin Barajas, Chris Chavez (22 rushing yards, 19 receiving) and Ruben Moreno each contributed a touchdown run.

Quarterback Owen Gully completed four of five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Juarez got hurt last week early in Manteca’s big 31-14 win over defending VOL champion Central Catholic. He suited up Friday, started on special teams and got two carries for 42 yards on the Buffaloes’ final drive of the first quarter. He did not play play the rest of the way, as his Manteca rolled to a 33-14 halftime lead and continued to establish dominance from there.

“We just wanted to see how he felt,” Varnum said. “He was never going to get too many (carries), just a couple to keep his feet wet a little bit.”

Sierra has its own injury concerns after two-way standout Brock Felt was taken to a hospital with an apparent ankle injury. He left the game early in the third quarter with 105 rushing yards and a touchdown.

“They just ran the ball down our throat at will,” Sierra coach Jeff Abrew said. “We had a couple stops, but we weren’t able to capitalize on anything. I tip my hat to them, they obviously earned the victory.

“Our guys need the bye week to rest up and regroup a little bit. Get ready for the home stretch.”

Martinez’s touchdowns were timely, as Sierra (2-1, 5-2) traded blows with the favored Buffaloes in the early going.

The Timberwolves answered Manteca’s opening drive, which ended in Martinez’s 18-yard rush on a fly sweep, with a 4-minute drive capped by Zak Willson’s 3-yard toss to Tali Vaipuna (three receptions, 64 yards).

That was when Martinez responded with his kickoff return.

“Before that kickoff return, Coach Gino (Campiotti) and Coach V (Varnum) had a talk with me and said, ‘We’re going to need you this game,’” Martinez said. “So, I just came back and took it to the house, and from there it gave us momentum.”

The backbreaker was his interception return in the final minute of the half. Sierra threatened to score after Felt’s 14-yard gain on a pass play. An additional 15 yards was tacked on thanks to a roughing-the-passer penalty. The Buffaloes were flagged for seven 15-yard penalties on the night.

On the next play, from Manteca’s 35-yard-line, Willson (11 of 15, 137 yards; rushing TD) overshot his target and Martinez was able to pluck it in the air with both hands before running it back.

“I honestly felt that coming,” Martinez said. “We were playing in cover-2, and I was hoping he was going to throw it. I saw him come down the flats, and when I saw the ball out, I was thinking it was going to be over (the intended receiver’s) head. I just had to trust my hands and my vision.”

Manteca’s defense forced three turnovers, with Chavez contributing an interception and edge rusher Mathieu Evans a fumble recovery. Evans also had a sack, as did Kyrin Barajas and Ryder Vasquez.

Sierra had a five-game winning streak snapped.

“I’m pleased with our effort early on,” Abrew said, “they just kind of wore on us and their physicality took a toll from the middle to the end of the game. I was proud of how they competed and handled themselves tonight. At the same time, we’re here to win games.

“If you’re going to compete with the big dogs, you have to make sure that we’re not giving up the big plays and not having the mental mistakes and turning the ball over. Those are recipes for disaster, and that’s what happened tonight.”

His Timberwolves will next play Patterson at home on Oct. 18, following their bye week. Manteca hosts Mountain House next Friday at East Union.