NEWMAN, Calif – A group of Orestimba High football players will get a chance to shine in all-star games this summer.
Lions All-Star Football Game
The 2025 Lions’ All-Star Football Game will be taking place at Wayne Schneider Stadium on the Tracy High School campus on Saturday, June 21. The kickoff is scheduled at 7 p.m.
Two Orestimba High football players are part of the South team, consisting of players from Stanislaus and Merced counties, in running back/linebacker Nicholas Cuevas and wide receiver Dylan McCauley.
“We are very excited about having two of our players play in such a prestigious (Lions) all-star game,” said Orestimba head coach Aaron Souza. “During my time as the head coach at Orestimba High School (since 2010), we have had 13 players selected to this game.”
Souza said that this year’s selections make it the 12th and 13th selections during his tenure.
“In the 15 seasons prior to 2010, we only had four players make the Lions Game,” Souza said.
Cuevas and McCauley were instrumental in the Warriors posting a 7-5 overall record, which included a 3-4 mark in the Trans-Valley League and hosted a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs – Division V. Orestimba beat Delhi in that home game, then lost to Linden in the quarterfinals.
Cuevas had 82 carries for 566 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. In the air, he had 13 receptions for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns.
From his linebacker position on defense, Cuevas had 132 tackles; 71 assists and 61 solo. “Nicolas had a tremendous season in which he (earned) First Team All-TVL honors along with being the TVL’s Outstanding Linebacker, he led the TVL in tackles,” Souza said.
McCauley was a threat on offense for the Warriors. He had 52 receptions for 908 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“Dylan led the TVL in receiving yards while putting on a phenomenal performance this past fall,” said Souza of McCauley. “Dylan was a unanimous pick to the First Team All TVL as a wide receiver.”
Fellow Trans-Valley League schools in Hilmar and Hughson also have players from their schools on the South All-Star team. Cuevas and McCauley will now become teammates with those players, plus others on the team.
Downey head coach Jeremy Plaa will serve as the South head coach.
St. Mary’s High head coach Tony Franks is the North head coach.
Girls flag football
The second annual Merced County All-Star Flag Football Game will be played at Golden Valley High School in Merced on Saturday, June 14th.
Two Orestimba girls were selected to play on the Blue team in Maya Barajas and Imelda Beltran-Pelayo.
During the 2024 season, Barajas rushed 28 times for 468 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Beltran-Pelayo, a wide receiver, grabbed 25 receptions for 408 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The two girls were a part of the 2024 Orestimba team that finished with an 8-2 mark in the TVL to win a share of the league title with Hughson and Escalon, and 21-7 overall.
The Warriors won their first two section D-IV playoff games against Millennium of Tracy and Destiny Christian Academy of Sacramento, then fell to Hughson in the semifinal game.
Ceres head coach Curtis Hulstine will be the Blue head coach.
Other schools being represented on the Blue team are Livingston, Patterson, Central Valley of Ceres, Turlock, Ceres, Los Banos, Gustine, Pacheco of Los Banos and Pitman of Turlock.
Merced head coach Vic Nazario will guide the Red team, which has players from Merced, Madera, Dos Palos, Sonora, Buhach Colony of Atwater, Golden Valley, Atwater, Mariposa, Madera South, El Capitan of Merced, Torres of Madera and Dos Palos.
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.
