Since the 1940s, the Battle of the Chief between Orestimba and Gustine High’s football programs has not only been at the center stage across the Westside, but remains as one of the longest rivalries among California high school football programs.

Regardless of team records, the intensity still lives on. From aggressive tackles to the trash talk between the players, the only thing that matters is who leaves the gridiron with the Chief, a 6-foot wooden statue that features a Native American in a full headdress.

In the past, the annual matchup has taken place in the latter half of the season. But with Orestimba in the Trans-Valley League, the game is played early in the season as a part of both team’s non-league slate.

“I just hope this game continues on and it keeps going on forever. It will be a shame if this game ever ends,” said Orestimba head coach Austin Martins, who was involved with the Battle of the Chief as a Warriors player.

With the Warriors having won five straight coming in, including a 26-0 shutout last year, the 80th edition of the rivalry game at Gustine epitomized what can happen between the two cross-area foes.

In the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead, the Warriors were stopped on third down at their 20-yard line, resulting in a punt. With multiple Gustine defenders rushing towards him, Orestimba’s Connor Orr kicked a low punt, which went directly to the hands of Gustine defensive line Lucas Avila, who went for a 28-yard line punt return to trail 14-13.

However, the Reds missed the extra point, leaving the home crowd in disbelief.

As Orestimba moved the ball down the field, quarterback Jorden Jacobo saw receiver Sean Nunes running a straight route and threw a 55-yard pass to him for the TD. After converting the extra point, the Warriors led 21-13 with two minutes left.

Gustine was stopped at its own territory as time expired, giving Orestimba a win to begin its 2026 campaign last Friday. The Chief will remain in Newman for a sixth consecutive year.

In his Warriors debut, Jacobo recorded 188 total yards and two TDs. The Hilmar High transfer comes to Newman as the team’s primary playmaker.

As Jacobo asserts himself in the Warriors’ culture, Martins praised his work ethic and leadership, and believed it was on display with his teammates rallying behind him. “I know this is new to him and everything’s been new to him,” Martins said. “He put his head down, and he’s worked [hard].”

Alongside Jacobo, receiver Michael Maier and Nunes combined for 116 yards and two crucial TDs.

For the Reds, quarterback Adrian Campos recorded Gustine’s sole offensive TD.

Both teams ran completely different offensive schemes. Orestimba ran a mix of running and passing play while Gustine ran a more run-oriented offense as they struggled to pass for any yardages.

With any game, especially rivalry matchups, there’s always a couple of possessions that would have made a difference in hindsight. That was in a few cases for Gustine throughout the game.

In the opening kickoff, Reds’ Juan Aguilera returned it for a 90-yard returning TD to erupt the home crowd. But it was overturned after a Gustine player was called for a penalty.

This would not be the only time where the Reds lost out on a TD. Later in the first quarter, Irvin Castro ran 30 yards to Orestimba’s redzone, but was overturned after Gustine called for a holding penalty. With two early mistakes, the Reds missed out on a two-possession lead.

After multiple unsuccessful drives from both teams, the Warriors were first on the board thanks to a 30-yard run from Jacobo and extra point midway through the second. It didn’t take long for Gustine to respond as on the ensuing possession; Campos faked a handoff and ran 92 yards to the Warriors’ endzone for TD. With the extra point, the game was tied 7-7 going in the second half.

The third period saw the Reds amplify their intensity by causing Orestimba to fumble the ball at their own 35-yard line to set up a scoring drive. Following three failed attempts to run the ball for a TD, Gustine’s field goal attempt was blocked by an Orestimba defender and recovered by tight end Brian Mendez. Mendez ran the ball to the 32-yard line but fumbled the ball, giving the Reds another scoring opportunity going into the fourth quarter.

With the team in field goal range, Gustine elected to go for it on fourth down. Their attempt was unsuccessful, giving the ball back to the Warriors.

In a five-play drive down the field, Orestimba regained their lead after Maier ran the ball in the endzone and converted the extra point, 14-7.

The Warriors went on to win the game and improved its all-time series record against the Reds to 42-36-1.

While it’s the result he didn’t want, Gustine head coach Collin Lane praised his team for “punching above their weight class” and “putting themselves in a position to win.”

“We just gotta work on the execution and practice, and [make] sure we fix those little adjustments, and we’ll be okay,” Lane said.

In an evening where his team made crucial plays down the stretch, Martins said the players maintained their focus and kept on playing, even with the two fumbles in the third quarter.

“I’m proud of them. A win’s a win,” Martins said. “I’m happy we kept playing football, and we got the job done.”

The Warriors will host Grace Davis High (1-0) in its home opener on Friday at 7 p.m. Gustine will travel to Riverbank High on Friday at 7 p.m. to begin its four-game road slate.