In the battle for first place in the Central Valley Youth Football and Cheer varsity division, the Manteca Cowboys scored late to remain undefeated, handing the Manteca Jr. Buffaloes their first loss with a 20-18 come-from-behind win Saturday at Dino Cunial Field.

Devin Cortinas pulled in the go-ahead pass from Terrance Montgomery. Elias Lopez (95 yards rushing, 20 yards passing) scored the other two Cowboys touchdowns on runs of 8 and 51 yards.

Tobias Cox made seven tackles for the Cowboys, Bryant Lewis (two interceptions) five and Montgomery (fumble recovery) four.

Erian Johnson Jr. paced the Jr. Buffaloes, gaining 140 yards on 20 carries with 1- and 16-yard touchdown runs. Santino Sanchez added a 1-yard scoring run, Vinny Diaz gained 50 yards on 12 carries and Blake Scalise chipped in 30 yards on seven carries.

Isileli Lolohea led the Jr. Buffaloes defense with six tackles. Johnson Jr. (fumble recovery) and Isaac Fountain added five stops apiece.

Junior varsity

Junior Buffaloes 20, Cowboys 6

Izaiah Faye scored the lone Cowboys touchdown.

Faye (13 carries for 122 yards) scored on a 60-yard run in the second quarter. Ruben Cedano contributed to the offense.

Faye made eight tackles, Cedano and Josiah Hopkins five apiece and Jack Benendetti three.

Rookies

Jr. Buffaloes 12, Cowboys 6

The Jr. Buffaloes scored in the fourth quarter to break the tie.

Alejandro Hernandez (3 of 4 passing, 96 yards; four carries, 58 yards) threw a touchdown pass to Donavyn Williams (two catches, 31 yards). Mateo Gavino (12 carries, 43 yards; one reception, 35 yards) and Romeo Huerta (12 carries, 43 yards) rounded out the Cowboys attack.

Adrian Cedano (interception), Hudson Green and Xavier Duvernay made six tackles apiece for the Cowboys, Mateo Gavino five, David Salinas, Daniel Salcedo and Alejandro Hernandez four with three for Donavyn Williams.

Starts

Jr. Buffaloes 24, Cowboys 0

Mario German legged out a 40-yard run for the Cowboys.

Jackson Batterson made seven tackles for the Cowboys, with four each for Aiden Gonzales and Aaron Hernandez.

Delta Youth Football

Stockton Bengals varsity 42, Manteca Chargers 0

The Bengals scored 21 points in the second quarter at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

Carlin Plunk gained 40 yards on two receptions for the Chargers.

Manteca’s Isaiah Ramirez and Valentino Dominguez made three tackles apiece while Josaiah Law-Lartigue snagged an interception.

Junior varsity

Chargers 26, Bengals 24

Trailing 18-6 at halftime, Manteca’s Maysen Cox exploded in the second half to lead the Chargers to the come-from-behind win

Cox (eight carries, 208 yards) scored on runs of 21, 29, 52 and 68 yards.

Cox posted five tackles with Eli Ruiz making an interception and Julian Baez and Kasin Salas each recovered a fumble. Noah Olage and Luke Akao contributed on defense.

Novice

Bengals 45, Chargers 7

Manteca’s Jayden Suarez gained 58 yards on two carries with a 32-yard touchdown run in the fourth period.

Christian Porter and Issac Aguilar made three tackles apiece for the Chargers with Jharon Jackson and Wyatt Love contributing to the defense.

Junior novice

Bengals 38, Chargers 14

Manteca led 14-6 after the first period.

Jameson Vargas (11 carries, 110 yards) scored on a 35-yard run for the Chargers and Shayne Sutherland Jr. (five carries, 71 yards) added a 48-yard touchdown run. Legend Johnson chipped in 41 yards on four carries.

Manteca’s Derringer Spangler and Aiden Reyes made three tackles apiece and Vargas made an interception. Johnson, Sutherland Jr. and Isaiah Ledesma contributed on defense.