The Orestimba High football team continues to struggle against league competition, losing 35-6 on the road to Hilmar High on Friday.
The Warriors fell to 4-3 overall and remained winless in Trans-Valley League play at 0-3. Friday’s contest was the program’s 10th consecutive TVL loss, dating back to a 41-14 loss against Escalon High in November 2024.
Yellowjackets quarterback Cohren Felber and running back Lucas Belo each brought in two touchdowns for Hilmar. Both players found a hole through the Warriors’ defense and were dominant on the ground.
However, unlike their league-foe, the Warriors’ rushing attack was ineffective past the Yellowjackets’ front seven. The running back tandem of Michael Maier and Hunter Silva, who have been a focal point of the team’s offense, had little success for large gains as they either got small gains or were tackled for a loss of yards.
While stopping Orestimba’s rushing attack, Hilmar’s defense also delivered a variety of blitz packages towards quarterback Jorden Jacobo, forcing him to scramble and throw multiple incomplete passes to avoid a loss of yards. Jacobo made his return to Hilmar after he transferred to Orestimba prior to this season.
The Yellowjackets wasted no time to get on the score board through a six-play opening drive that was capped with Felber completing a 10-yard passing touchdown to Nathan Ayala, 7-0.
On the ensuing drive, the Warriors made it to the 34-yard line, where head coach Austin Martins elected to go for a fourth down. The decision did not pay off after Hilmar forced a turnover on downs.
Eventually, the Yellowjackets made it to Orestimba’s 14-yard line midway through the opening quarter. The drive concluded with running back Adam Branco stiffing-arm past Jose Cuevas to run towards the end zone for a 14-0 lead.
Orestimba’s offense continued to struggle against a stifling defense, resulting in a punt near their end zone and giving Hilmar a good yardage at the Warriors’ 44-yard line. Similar to their previous drive, Felber led the Yellowjackets to the 14-yard line. This time, it was Felber who rushed into the end zone to extend Hilmar’s lead to 21 near the end of the first.
After forcing a Warriors’ punt midway through the second, the Yellowjackets later drove to the 33-yard line in their ensuing drive. Three plays later, Hilmar was at the goal line where Belo recorded a rushing TD to extend the lead to 28.
The senior running concluded a dominant opening half for the Yellowjackets with a 24-yard rushing TD for not only his second of the game, but also a 35-0 lead going into halftime.
Orestimba, at last, got on the board midway through the fourth following Jacobo’s 4-yard passing TD to receiver Isaiah Quiroz, 35-6.
The Warriors will host Hughson High (5-2, 2-1 TVL) on Friday at Warrior Stadium for a 7 p.m. The Huskies are coming off a 31-14 win on the road against Sonora High.
