NEWMAN – Eight months has passed since Orestimba High football head coach Austin Martins walked off the field at Warrior Stadium.

That was when Orestimba hosted Beyer in a bowl game that the Sac-Joaquin Section implemented for high school football programs that didn’t earn a playoff berth. Beyer, out of Modesto, returned to the East side of the city with a 20-7 victory. That was the Warriors’ seventh consecutive loss, ending the 2025 season at 2-9.

“We’re going to turn that page,” Martins said.

Orestimba is accustomed to winning many games during the regular season and winning league titles, plus earning an SJS playoff berth, for more than a decade.

Since last December, Martins and the Warriors have been busy building toward the upcoming season and getting back on the winning track.

Martins said Orestimba players, returning juniors who will be seniors and sophomores who will be juniors for the 2026-27 school year, have been busy working out in the weight room since last December.

“I thought it’s been a good workout in the gym,” Martins said.

The players were in the weight room Monday through Thursday the last seven months, Martins noted.

7-on-7

In recent months, Orestimba has been taking part in 7-on-7 games.

“This year, we made an emphasis to have more 7-on-7s,” said Martins, who is entering his second season running the program.

Orestimba took part in a tournament in Chico prior to the start of the 2025 season.

This summer, the Warriors were in three 7-on-7 tournaments at Los Banos High, Ceres High and Downey High of Modesto. Martins had four scheduled, but the Warriors opted out of the second sessions at Ceres.

Martins said 25 to 30 guys usually took part in the 7-on-7 games, which were many between the sessions at Los Banos, Ceres and Downey. They competed against various schools at all three sites.

“The kids really enjoyed (it),” Martins said.

Part of those games include the Warriors looking for a new quarterback. Alexzander Beltran, a junior who was on the 2025 Orestimba junior varsity football team, and incoming freshman Nathan Perez have been taking the snaps in the 7-on-7 games.

“They’ve been doing a good job,” said Martins of Beltran and Perez. “It’s been kind of good competition. I’m excited to see how that pans out.”

Program numbers

Martins said there are approximately 70 players out for the entire program. The Warriors are planning to have a varsity, junior varsity and freshmen teams this season. Part of that number includes 20 to 25 incoming freshmen.

“We have a good incoming class,” Martins said. “They’ve been adapting to the high school level. They’re buying in. Real exciting stuff to see these guys being a part of it.”

Martins added the incoming freshmen have produced success at the youth football level in recent years.

“We’ve been hearing about this class for a while,” Martins said. “The time is finally here. This class is finally here. We’re all excited.”

On July 1, all high school football programs in the section, along with all fall, winter and spring sports, went into the mandated dead period that runs until this Sunday. Coaches, no matter if they are a head coach or assistant, are prohibited from working or contacting student athletes during the dead period.

“We want the kids to actually get away and enjoy,” Martins said. “Have some fun and be with family. I know there’s a lot of kids have vacations planned (with their families).”

The coach also added he would like his players to stay in shape during the dead period while enjoying time away from the football field.

Then on July 15, football and fall sports programs can resume limited workouts and conditioning for the upcoming season.

On Monday, Aug. 3, all football programs can officially begin practices.

Orestimba will open its season at Gustine in the annual Battle for the Chief on the Reds’ field on Friday, Aug. 28.

Then Orestimba will play back-to-back home non-league games at Warrior Stadium against Western Athletic Conference foes Grace Davis of Modesto on Friday, Sept. 4 and Livingston on Friday, Sept. 11.

The Warriors close out the preseason at former Southern Athletic League foe Waterford on Friday, Sept. 18.

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.