Tehachapi at Clovis East
September 12, 2003
Clovis East High's compact double-wing formation features no wide receivers
and even uses the quarterback as the lead blocker in the run-heavy scheme.
Posted By Lisa Burnett, The Fresno Bee, on September 13, 2003 TIMBERWOLVES DEFENSE SHUTS DOWN WARRIORS, 27-0
Let's just say, it was a defensive week for the Clovis East High football team.
Coach Tim Murphy and his staff spent the week leading to Friday night's matchup with Tehachapi viewing films like never before, dissecting errors in last week's 21-6 season-opening victory over Sunnyside and challenging the Timberwolves' defense to rise up and dominate.
That objective was accomplished at Lamonica Stadium as the Timberwolves' defense set the tone in a 27-0 victory over the Warriors.
"They couldn't wait to play," Murphy said of his defense, giving credit to defensive coordinater George Falgout. "They played sloppy last week. We challenged the 'D,' and they were just a different football team."
Led by inside linebackers Weston Schmall and Brandon Bascherini, Clovis East, ranked No. 4 in the Central Section, yielded just 96 yards to Tehachapi -- only 30 in the second half.
"We weren't going to come out flat," said Schmall, a junior who seemed to be everywhere. "We wouldn't let down at all. There was no way. We came in knowing we had to get the job done, and we couldn't let down at all."
The Warriors got into Timberwolves territory just twice, earning a first down at the Clovis East 46 midway through the second quarter and reaching the 37 after recovering a fumble at the Tehachapi 44 early in the second half.
Tehachapi's first venture past midfield ended with a punt after Schmall blew into the Tehachapi backfield untouched and sacked quarterback A.J. Barcelona for a 6-yard loss on third-and-12 from the 48. The second intrustion also ended with a punt.
"We told ourselves that we were going to do it, and we just totally dominated," said Schmall, who had another sack and made several key tackles.
The Warriors mustered just two plays of more than 10 yards -- a 13-yard run by Tanner Hutchinson and a 12-yard run by Mike Wright.
"We just couldn't get our offense going," Tehachapi coach Steve Denman said. "They played good defense, but when your playing against a team like that, you can't keep giving them chance after chance."
The Timberwolves made the most of their chances, scoring on two of their three first-half possessions.
Murphy's plan to alternate quarterbacks Zach Faith and Westy Guill was scrapped after Faith began feeling pain around his previously broken collar bone after running just three plays. But Guill, after a bad first exchange, had no problem with a solo assignment.
Three plays and two penalties after Guill entered the game, Alex Prevendar scored on a 5-yard run with six minutes left in the first quarter to put Clovis East up for good.
Rodney Oliver broke several tackles on his way to a 38-yard touchdown on the Timberwolves' next drive.
Clovis East fumbled on its second play of the second half, but its defense promptly forced a punt. About 61/2 minutes later, Prevendar scored on a 1-yard run to give the Timberwolves a 21-0 lead with 2:41 left in the third quarter.
With Clovis East basically working the clock, Oliver broke lose on a 49-yard touchdown run with 48 seconds left.
That gain made Oliver top among eight Timberwolves runners with 103 yards in six attempts.
Clovis East wasted little time in psyching up for next week's game at nationally ranked Long Beach Poly. The Timberwolves chanted, "LBP! LBP!" after Friday's game.
(Webmaster Note: The last time a Warrior team was shutout was eight years ago.
The Warriors were blanked by Wasco, 2-0, on October 27, 1995 at Wasco.)
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Tehachapi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00 |
| Clovis East | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 27 |
The Scoring:
1st quarter:
CE -- Prevendar 5 run (Quintero kick)
2nd quarter:
CE -- Oliver 38 run (kick failed)
3rd quarter:
CE -- Prevendar 1 run (Lopez run)
4th quarter:
CE -- Oliver 49 run (Kick failed)
| THS | Clovis | |
| First Downs | 7 | 15 |
| Rushes-Yards | 34-87 | 48-313 |
| Passing Yards | 6 | 63 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 1-5-0 | 3-4-0 |
| Total Yards | 93 | 379 |
| Punts | 4-29.0 | 0-00.0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 3-1 |
| Penalties | 5-30 | 3-15 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:
RUSHING -- Tehachapi: Hutchinson 10-39, Wright 6-27, Clark 5-14. Clovis East: Oliver 5-101, Prevendar 9-58, Guill 11-55.
PASSING -- Tehachapi: Barcelona 1-5-0, 6 yds. Clovis East: Guill 2-3-0-27, Faith 1-1-0, 36 yds.
RECEIVING -- Tehachapi: Haycock 1-6. Clovis East: Nakagawa 2-27, Ricci 1-36.