Following a road win the week before, Orestimba High football continued its momentum with a 28-12 win against Grace Davis High last Friday.
The Warriors improved to 2-0 overall and the Spartans fell to 1-1 overall.
While Friday’s match was considered a home match, its venue was Gustine High due to ongoing renovations at Warrior Stadium. No set date has been announced of when the team will officially play at its home field.
Warriors quarterback Jorden Jacobo continued to find success with the team, throwing for two touchdowns.
Missing on Orestimba’s sideline was head coach Austin Martins. Martins was suspended from Friday’s game after he was ejected at the end of the team’s opener against Gustine on Aug. 28. According to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, an ejected head coach is suspended for one to three games depending on what’s determined by section staff.
Michael Mendoza, the linebacker coach, served as the team’s interim head coach.
Coming off a rivalry game to open the season, the Warriors’ defense was poised through the evening. From pressuring Spartans quarterback Caleb Zaragoza to forcing a turnover on downs, Orestimba showcased its potential defensively.
“Grace Davis is a good [and] athletic explosive team,” Mendoza said. “We just kept trying to change the picture … but they did it very aggressively, very proud of them.”
In the first quarter, Zaragoza orchestrated a five-play drive to the Warriors 13-yard line. As the Spartans ran the ball, the Warriors forced and recovered a fumble. The stop led to Jacobo bringing Orestimba to the 16-yard line. The Hughson transfer threw a pass to receiver Sean Nunes, who ran past several Grace Davis defenders for a 7-0 lead following the extra point.
Grace Davis didn’t need much time to respond back. In the first drive of the second quarter, Zaragoza threw a 45-yard pass to receiver Isaiah Hasley, who effortlessly ran into the endzone to trail 7-6. Following the TD, it seemed the Spartans were kicking for the extra, but kicker Liam Gerbo ran a trick play for the 2-point conversion, which led to his pass being intercepted.
With a one-point lead, Orestimba’s Michael Maier returned a 52-yard kick return to extend the Warriors’ lead to eight. However, similar to before, Grace Davis responded back with Hasley bringing in a 75-yard kick return to trail 14-12. Zaragoza’s pass on the 2-point conversion was intercepted.
Orestimba concluded the first half with a running TD to lead 21-12 going into the second half.
The Spartans’ offense didn’t find their rhythm in the second half as the Warriors’ defense got past the offense and sacked Zaragoza for loss of yards. Orestimba returned the favor on the ensuing possession in a five-play drive that ended with a 10-yard running TD from running back Hunter Silva to lead 28-12 going into the fourth quarter. The 16-point lead proved to be enough for the Warriors to hold on and win.
With two games remaining in its non-league slate, Mendoza said the team is focused on improving each day. “We are very young. We have a couple of strong senior leaders,” he said. “It’s just about getting better every day.”
Orestimba will host Livingston High (0-2) on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
