NEWMAN - Five regular season games down and five to go.
The Orestimba High School football team takes its bye this week. Head coach Austin Martins feels the break comes at the right time for his troops.
“One hundred percent,” said Martins, whose Warriors are 0-1 in the Trans-Valley League and 4-1 overall. “This is a good time to have our bye week.”
The Warriors won their first four games of the season, all nonleague, against rival Gustine, Grace Davis of Modesto, Livingston and Waterford.
Orestimba opened league play against Sonora (1-0 in the TVL, 3-2), which has won back-to-back California Interscholastic Federation Division 2-A state titles in 2025 and 2024 and posted a perfect 15-0 record in 2025, on Friday. The host Wildcats jumped out to a 39-0 halftime lead, en route to a 53-18 score.
During the bye this week, Martins already has his team’s schedule planned out.
On Monday, Orestimba players will have weight training and watch game films. Then the team will practice Tuesday through Thursday. Martins said there’s a potential walk-through for his players on Friday.
“We’re not going to waste time,” Martins said.
When Orestimba returns to TVL action on Friday, Oct. 9, it will be hosting Ripon Christian High’s squad at Warrior Stadium. This will be the first time this season the Warriors will host a game at their own stadium. The school placed an all-weather track that began the installation over the summer. Orestimba had to play its home games against Grace Davis and Livingston at Gustine High School Football Stadium.
“We actually (and) finally get to play (at Warrior Stadium),” Martins said. “A lot of exciting stuff will be happening. We’re excited for our boys.”
TVL games
In the other two league games, both on Friday, Hilmar (1-0 in the TVL, 5-0) beat Ripon (0-1, 2-3) by a 28-14 score and Escalon (1-0, 3-2) recorded a 38-7 win over Ripon Christian (0-1, 4-1). Hughson had the bye week.
This Friday, Escalon will be at Hilmar, Sonora at Ripon Christian and Ripon at Hughson.
Mike Bush is a multimedia journalist who was born and raised in the Stanislaus and Merced County areas. Follow him on X/Twitter @MikeBMultimedia and Instagram @mikebushmedia.
