NEWMAN - Same stadium but different non-league foe.
For a third consecutive week, the Orestimba High School football team will play at Gustine High’s field again this Friday. According to Warriors head coach Austin Martins, work is still being completed on the school’s all-weather track that started earlier this summer. He noted that Orestimba will play its first game at Warrior Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9, when Ripon Christian High visits for a Trans-Valley League game.
This Friday, Orestimba (2-0) will face Livingston (0-2) on the Reds’ field. The game time is scheduled at 7 p.m.
Livingston is coming off two tough losses to start its season. The Wolves hosted Stevenson, which is out of Pebble Beach, on Friday. Stevenson returned to the coast with a 42-21 win.
Livingston and Stevenson were knotted 7-7 entering the fourth quarter. Then the Pirates scored 35 points in the quarter. The host Wolves also found the end zone in the final quarter.
In its season opener, also at home, on Aug. 28, Livingston hosted McNair from Stockton. The game was also tied at 14-all at halftime. But the visiting Eagles flew to three touchdowns in the second half to post a 35-14 win.
Livingston has a new head coach in Brian Alvarez, who was the team’s offensive coordinator for the six seasons.
Alvarez, who like Martins, is a graduate of his alma mater, in 2011. Alvarez was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball for the Wolves. Alvarez played football at Modesto Junior College for two years, where he became the Pirates’ all-time career receiving record. He transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
History
Since 1990, Orestimba and Livingston have played each other in football in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoff game, plus Western Athletic Conference and non-conference games.
In a Division III playoff game in 1990, Livingston beat the Warriors in the opener en route to winning the blue banner.
From 2006 to 2010, the Warriors and Wolves were members of the WAC. From the 2006 to 2009 seasons, Orestimba beat Livingston once in 2007, while the Wolves won the other three games.
The two schools played each other in non-league in 2010 and 2011, where Livingston won both games.
Stats
Orestimba is coming off its 28-12 win over Grace Davis of Modesto in a non-league game that was played on Gustine’s field on Friday.
Entering this Friday’s game, Warriors quarterback Jorden Jacobo has completed 16 of 38 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
The Warriors’ running game has also been good in the first two games of the season. Running back Michael Maier has 12 carries for 102 yards and also two touchdowns. Another running back in Hunter Silva has 11 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown.
Sean Nunes, a junior wide receiver, has 4 receptions for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On defense, Maier, an outside linebacker, has 23 tackles in two games for the Warriors.
Tommy Green, another outside linebacker, has 17 tackles and free safety Miguel Ibarra has 11.
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.
