Trabon Russell leads the way as Manteca plows past Placer in Division III title game

Trabron Russell rushed for 221 yards and had touchdown runs of 59, 1, 55 and 48 yards to power the fourth-seeded Buffaloes past No. 2 Placer 33-14 in the section Division III championship Saturday at Hughes Stadium.

It’s the sixth section banner for Manteca (11-2) this decade, which includes a win over Placer in 2016. In its fourth consecutive Sac-Joaquin Section title game, Placer (10-3) was seeking its seventh championship and first since 2017, when it beat Center 42-32 and made it to a CIF state title game.

Placer beat Manteca 20-6 for the section crown in 1975. That Hillmen team was coached by Bill Miller, grandfather of Placer coach Joey Montoya.

Manteca’s Russell was the star Saturday. On the first offensive play in the second half with his team trailing 14-13, the senior raced down the sideline for a 55-yard score.

Manteca took control of the game in the middle of the third quarter, when linebacker Angel Garay intercepted an over-the-middle pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown and a 26-14 lead.

Russell’s fourth score, and 23rd of the season, resulted in the final score. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. Manteca, which hasn’t lost since a one-point defeat to Central Catholic of Modesto on Sept. 20, will play next week in a CIF Northern California Regional playoff against another section winner.

Placer fullback Hans Grassman rushed 131 yards and a touchdown and teammate Jesse Whigman rushed for 47 yards and had a 4-yard score.

Placer won nine straight games en route to the section final, including one-point and three-point wins in the playoffs. The Hillmen finished the season at 10-4.

This story was originally published November 30, 2019 at 6:46 PM with the headline "Trabon Russell leads the way as Manteca plows past Placer in Division III title game."