SONORA - Two Orestimba High School football players found the end zone in the second half of Friday’s Trans-Valley League opener against Sonora High’s squad.

But the host Wildcats scored early and often in the first half. That led to Sonora posting a 53-18 win over Orestimba (0-1 in the TVL, 4-1 overall) at Dunlavy Field.

Sonora (1-0 in the TVL, 3-2), which has won back-to-back California Interscholastic Federation Division 2-A state titles in 2025 and 2024 and posted a perfect 15-0 record in 2025, jumped out to a 39-0 halftime lead.

“Definitely was the difference,” said Orestimba head coach Austin Martins of the Wildcats’ fast start to the game. “They got on us early.”

The Warriors scored three touchdowns in the second half. Running back Michael Maier scored two touchdowns in the half, with the first one on the ground. He rushed 12 times for 41 yards in the game.

Orestimba quarterback Jorden Jacobo scored the other touchdown, also on the ground. Maier caught a 56-yard touchdown pass in the game to account for all of the team’s scoring.

Jacobo completed 12 of 16 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball six times for 49 yards rushing.

Hunter Silva also had six carries for 90 yards rushing for the Warriors.

In the air, wide receiver Sean Nunes had 5 receptions for 37 yards.

Sonora had a combined 378 yards; 286 yards rushing and 92 passing.

Martins was proud of how his team stayed focused in the second half and worked hard despite the score at halftime. The game had a running clock in the fourth quarter.

“I was very happy with how we came out in the second half,” Martins said. “I was very happy with how our guys came out.”

Another perk for Orestimba in the second half was forcing the Wildcats a turnover on a fumble.

“It was definitely a different team in the second half,” Martins said.

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.