HILMAR, Calif – Is Orestimba High football head coach Aaron Souza going to notch a milestone win?
Will Hilmar High football head coach Frank Marques and his Yellowjackets register another homecoming win that program has been accustomed to since he’s been running the program?
Fans will find out when this Trans-Valley League contest is played at McSweeney Field on the Hilmar High campus on Friday. Game time is scheduled at 7 p.m. This is also Hilmar’s homecoming game.
Orestimba (2-1 in the TVL, 5-1 overall) and Hilmar (1-2 in the TVL, 3-3) rekindle their Westside rivalry in a decade, when they were in the TVL from 2010 to 2013. Hilmar posted 49-6 win in their 2013 game.
Prior to being in the TVL, Orestimba and Hilmar were also members of the Western Athletic Conference from 2006 to 2010.
If Orestimba wins, Souza will notch his 100th career victory.
But if Hilmar records a victory, this will be one of many homecoming wins that Marques, who has been the head coach since 2003, and his Yellowjackets can enjoy again.
“It’s a very typical, athletic Hilmar team,” said Souza of the Yellowjackets. “They are very well-coached. Frank has done a remarkable job there.”
Hilmar likes to spread out its offense, which should keep Orestimba on its toes throughout the game.
On defense, Souza pointed out that the Yellowjackets love to rally to the football when an opponent is on offense.
Orestimba has its offensive weapons in quarterback Jacob Valenzuela, running backs Nicolas Cuevas and wide receiver Dylan McCauley.
“Jacob has a strong arm that can make all the throws,” Marques said. “He’s also very elusive in the pocket. We will have to try to keep him in the pocket.”
Marques feels that Warrior wide receiver Dylan McCauley is a “big, strong receiver.”
Hilmar has weapons of its own on offense in quarterback Merek Ellerd, running backs Caden Bailey and tight end John Labno.
The winner of Friday’s game could see a boost in their ratings on CalPreps, which is used to help determine seeding for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
According to CalPreps’ website on Monday, Orestimba has a rating of 0.1. Orestimba has already qualified for a post-season berth with at least four wins during the regular season. Hilmar is currently at -5.7.
League-leader Sonora (3-0 in the TVL, 6-0) has a 23 rating, followed by Hughson (3-0 in the TVL, 6-0) at 9.6 and Escalon (1-2 in the TVL, 2-4) at 3.7.
The last time Orestimba beat Hilmar in football was in 1996, the second of back-to-back non-league wins.
Marques, a 1981 Hilmar High graduate was a three-year starter at fullback and linebacker on the Hilmar football teams from 1978 to 1980. The Yellowjackets and Warriors were members of the Southern Athletic League until 1980 when Hilmar was moved to the TVL from 1980 until 2006.
“The Hilmar, Orestimba rivalry goes way back,” Marques said. “It’s great having our Westside foes back in the same league. There are so many connections between the two communities. This game will attract a lot of attention.”
Souza added, “We anticipate another tight, TVL football game.”
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 @mikebushphotography.
