NEWMAN - One of the goals for the Orestimba High School football team this season was, if all goes well, to enter Trans-Valley League play undefeated.
The Warriors have accomplished their mission.
“We always have the mentality of taking one game at a time,” said Orestimba head coach Austin Martins. “That was the goal and that was the mission was to go 4-0. We didn’t shy away as a team and as a staff. We didn’t talk about it every single day.”
Now Orestimba (4-0), fresh off its 35-0 win over former Southern Athletic League foe Waterford on the Wildcats’ field on Friday, are back on the road again this Friday. This time, starting league action against Sonora (2-2) at Dunlavy Field. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Sonora made the trek to the Bay Area for its final preseason game, beating King’s Academy 33-21 in Sunnyvale also on Friday. The Wildcats lost to Woodcreek, out of Roseville, 62-13, the week prior, beat Pacheco of Los Banos 49-8 and started the season against long-time rival Oakdale, which recorded a 21-9 win.
“They are going to run the ball, and they are going to make you stop them,” said Martins of the Wildcats.
Sonora has won back-to-back California Interscholastic Federation Division 2-A state titles in 2025 and 2024. The Wildcats posted a perfect 15-0 record in 2025.
In addition to winning its second straight state title, Sonora also won the CIF NorCal Regional, Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV and TVL crowns.
“It’s never a rebuild; it’s always a reload,” said Martins of Sonora. “We’re excited to get after it and play these guys.”
The approach taken to the road trip into Tuolumne County is no different than what Orestimba has done since Martins took over the program prior to the 2025 season.
“We always say it’s a business trip; we get in and we get out,” Martins said. “Yes, it’s a little bit longer of a bus ride. But at the end of the day for one goal and one goal only.”
Stats
On offense, Warrior quarterback Jorden Jacobo has completed 28 of 53 passes for 381 yards and 6 touchdowns this season.
Running back Michael Maier has 22 carries for 262 yards and 4 touchdowns, and running back Hunter Silva has 17 carries for 141 yards.
In the air, Orestimba wide receiver Sean Nunes has 7 receptions for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Moving to defense, the Warriors have a combined 270 tackles. Maier, from his outside linebacker’s spot, has 40. Another outside linebacker in Tommy Green follows at 29. There are a combined 13 Orestimba players who have tackles in double-digits.
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.
