SONORA, Calif – Jacob Valenzuela had a strong performance for his Orestimba High football team’s second Trans-Valley League game.
But Sonora had a better performance.
The host Wildcats scored often in the first quarter. That set the tone as Sonora posted a 44-20 win over Orestimba (1-1 in the TVL, 4-1) at Dunlavy Field on Friday.
“They came out firing,” said Orestimba head coach Aaron Souza of the Wildcats. “We did not have an answer for them early.”
Sonora jumped out to a 31-0 lead after a quarter and a half. The Wildcats scored three of their four touchdowns on 4, 2 and 1-yard runs.
“They went down the field and scored right away,” Souza said.
Orestimba came close of tying the game after the Wildcats’ first score. The Warriors moved the ball down the field into Sonora territory and scored a touchdown. But Orestimba was called for a holding penalty on the touchdown. The drive stalled at the Sonora 30-yard line.
The other Sonora touchdown was a 56-yard pass. The Wildcats rounded out most of their scoring on a field goal.
“They just kept scoring,” Souza said. “We didn’t get a stop. We didn’t respond.”
Valenzuela threw three touchdown passes in the contest. The first came in the second quarter when wide receiver Dylan McCauley caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Valenzuela. The extra point put the score at 31-7.
Sonora (2-0 in the TVL, 5-0) scored its next touchdown before halftime on a 1-yard run for a 38-7 score.
“I would say that the success of their football team is really hindered on their running game,” Souza said. “They control the line of scrimmage, and they controlled the clock.”
After a scoreless third quarter, Sonora and Orestimba scored a combined 19 points in the final quarter that led to the final score.
The Wildcats tacked on two field goals in the quarter.
Valenzuela threw his second touchdown when he hit McCauley again, this time for 2 yards. The extra-point kick was good.
The final touchdown pass from Valenzuela went to running back Nicolas Cuevas of 73 yards. Orestimba was successful in two of its three extra-point attempts.
Valenzuela completed 18-of-26 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns.
“He continues to be a great leader for us,” said Souza of Valenzuela. “During the week, on Friday night (s). He continues to make plays. Jacob continues to make plays. He does what you ask of him as a quarterback.”
Valenzuela has completed 51-of-76 passes for 869 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
McCauley pulled in six receptions for 101 yards, plus his two touchdowns in the game. Cuevas had four receptions for 79 yards and Devon Bell 1-57.
Warrior running back Allen Garcia had four carries for 62 yards.
Orestimba finished with a combined 376 offensive yards.
On defense, Cuevas, from his linebacker’s spot, had 19 tackles. Defensive back Mateo Navarro followed with 13 tackles and Garcia, another linebacker, had 10. Defensive lineman Nathan Ceja had nine tackles.
Sonora had 318 rushing yards and 101 passing.
Homecoming
Now Orestimba shifts its attention to Ripon this Friday at Coach Roger Pauletto Field at Warrior Stadium. Game time is scheduled at 7 p.m.
The league game is also the Warriors’ homecoming game.
Ripon is coming off a 28-0 non-league win over Modesto High, also on Friday. The Indians opened TVL action against Hughson, which recorded a 28-7 win on Sept. 20.
“Ripon is a physically, tall team,” said Souza of the Indians. “They do a good job in running the football. They do a good job on defense on stopping the run. Their program has good tradition.”
The last time Orestimba and Ripon played each other in football was in 2013, when Orestimba was in the TVL between 2010 and 2013. Ripon won the 2013 meeting by a 66-0 score and won three of its four meetings with the Warriors. Orestimba won the 2010 contest, 40-21.
Orestimba returned to the Southern Athletic League in 2014 until last spring. Then the Sac-Joaquin Section’s league realignment in spring 2023 placed the Warriors back into the TVL at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
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.
