The Orestimba flag football team continues its hot start to Trans-Valley League play following a 27-0 shutout on the road against Escalon High on Thursday.

The Warriors wins its seventh-straight and improved to 17-1 overall, while the Cougars fell to 4-10 and remain winless in league play.

Orestimba quarterback Salece Machado finished with two total touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground. She has now thrown for 34 TDs this season.

After forcing Escalon for turnover on downs at their goal line, Machado led the Warriors at the Cougars 20-yard line going into the second quarter. On the first down of the quarter, Machado ran to her right side of the field and then moved toward left pass multiple Escalon defenders to run in for the end zone to put Orestimba on the board early, 6-0.

Despite the lead, the Warriors’ offense, for the most part, was stagnant as they gained short yardage on plays. For their offense, Orestimba’s defense made up for it. Multiple Warriors’ defenders stripped Cougars players’ flag, resulting in Escalon punting at the territory for the majority of the match.

With a 6-0 lead at the half, the coaches weren’t giving a speech, it was the players telling one another to step up going into the third quarter. That conversation seemed to be the spark they needed.

In Orestimba’s second drive of the quarter, Machado led the team to Escalon’s 10-yard line with a chance to extend the lead. Off a screen pass from Machado, receiver Natalie Corella ran past two Cougars’ defenders and reached for the pylon for the TD. Following the extra point conversion, the Warriors led 13-0.

Just as Escalon began the ensuing drive, things took a turn for the worse. Junior Yesenia Marcellis’ pass was intercepted by Imelda Beltran, who ran in the end zone for pick six. The Warriors held a 20-0 lead going into the final period.

Midway through the quarter, running back Mia Muriilo ran in Escalon’s end zone for the team’s third TD of the half. Orestimba led 27-0 following the extra point and held on the win.

The Warriors will now have to shift their focus towards an highly anticipated matchup on the road against league foe Hilmar High (14-2) (4-0 TVL) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Both teams have been at the top of the TVL in past two seasons.

Last season, Orestimba sweeped the Yellowjackets in the regular season to win the league. Hilmar, in response, ended the Warriors’ 2025 campaign in a double overtime win at Warrior Stadium in the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs. The Yellowjackets went on to win the postseason and to lift the coveted section blue banner.

With an understanding of what’s at stake, head coach John Labno said the team will discuss what improvements is needed through film sessions.

“We’ll run a few things in practice to be able to try … we’ve seen what they can do a little bit on film,” Labno said.