NEWMAN, Calif. – Three touchdowns in 12 minutes.
The Orestimba High football team did just that against the Delhi High squad in the first round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs – Division VI at Warrior Stadium on Friday.
That led to No. 5 seed Orestimba recording a 33-0 win over No. 12 seed Delhi.
“I just felt like we had a great, sound game plan,” said Orestimba head coach Aaron Souza, “and it was all centered in stopping their run game. We did a great job in figuring out their tendencies.”
Now Orestimba (7-4) moves into the quarterfinal round for the third time in four seasons. The Warriors hit the road to play at No. 4 Linden (8-2), which had the first-round bye, on Friday, Nov. 15.
The Warriors found three different ways to reach the end zone against Delhi (8-3), which won its first-ever Southern League title since the Merced County high school opened its doors in the 1998-99 school year, in the first quarter.
Orestimba wide receiver Dylan McCauley, who has scored the bulk of his touchdowns in the air this season, found his way into the end zone with a 7-yard run in the opening quarter. Devon Bell booted the extra point that gave the Warriors a 7-0 lead.
Warrior wide receiver Richie Rivas played a role in the team’s next two touchdowns.
Taking a Hawk punt, Rivas snagged the football and rambled 41 yards for a touchdown. Bell’s kick made it 14-0.
Then Rivas hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacob Valenzuela later in the quarter. Bell’s boot gave Orestimba a 21-0 score.
“It was good to see him get involved early,” said Souza of Rivas.
Valenzuela and the Warriors made it 28-0 in the second quarter when he threw his TD pass of the game. This time to McCauley, who pulled down a 31-yard pass.
Orestimba scored the remaining five points in the third quarter.
Bell booted a 31-yard field goal, which gave the Warriors a 31-0 score.
Warrior defensive lineman Nathan Ceja registered a safety when he tackled the Delhi punter in the Orestimba end zone.
“I always tell the guys it’s a team game,” Souza said. “Some weeks, some guys are going to have better games than others.”
Orestimba finished with 225 total offensive yards. The Warriors had 115 on the ground and 110 in the air.
Valenzuela completed 5 of 9 passes for 110 yards. McCauley had three receptions for 55 yards and Bell was 3-22.
On the ground, Warrior running back Nicolas Cuevas had five carries for 79 yards and Allen Garcia went 8-35.
Moving to defense, Orestimba linebacker Colby Cabral led the team in tackles with 14; eight assists and six solo. Cuevas, also a linebacker, followed with 12 tackles, defensive lineman Robert Corella eight and defensive back Mateo Navarro and Garcia, also a linebacker, each had six.
Souza credits his players for having a great week of practice to ground the Hawks.
“The kids responded,” Souza said.
Mike Bush is a multimedia journalist in the Sacramento area resident who was born and raised in the Stanislaus and Merced County areas. Follow him on X/Twitter @MikeBMultimedia.
