GUSTINE - One more week before the Gustine High School football team plays its second home game of the season.

But the Reds will play another Southern Athletic League road game this Friday. That is when Gustine (0-1 in the SAL, 0-4 overall) makes a shorter trek to the East side of Stanislaus County to play at Denair High (1-0 in the SAL, 3-1). Game time is scheduled at 7:15 p.m.

Gustine will come into this Friday’s game after making the long trek to Mariposa County High in the league opener. Mariposa (1-0 in the SAL, 3-1) produced a 50-6 win on Friday.

Denair won its SAL opener, also on Friday, by recording a 28-14 win over Stone Ridge Christian High’s squad. The Coyotes scored two touchdowns in the second and fourth quarters each to register the win.

The Coyotes’ only loss this season was in a preseason game to Amador, out of Sutter Creek, which posted a 28-20 on Sept. 11. Denair defeated Madera South 37-0 on Sept. 4 and Mission High 57-12 in the season opener on Aug. 28. Mission is out of San Francisco.

Gustine has played its last three games on the road; at Mariposa, at Big Valley Christian High of Modesto (lost 56-20 on Sept. 11) and at Riverbank (lost 7-6 on Sept. 4).

The Reds return to Gustine High School Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9 in an SAL game against Modesto Christian (1-0 in the SAL, 1-3). The Crusaders played an independent schedule during the 2025 season.

After this Friday’s game at Denair, Gustine will play three of its remaining five league games at home.

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.