Dinuba Emperors at Tehachapi
November 15, 2002
Warriors Advance In CIF Playoffs With
36-12 Victory Over Dinuba EmperorsPosted Saturday, November 16, 2002, By COREY COSTELLOE, Bakersfield Californian
TEHACHAPI - It may be time for the Emperors to get those new clothes. Their football uniforms will not be needed any longer this season.
Tehachapi High sent the Dinuba Emperors to a 36-12 loss Friday in the first round of the Central Section Division III playoffs.
Tanner Hutchinson and Tony Troffer provided Tehachapi's one-two punch, combining for 275 yards on the ground and two touchdowns for the Warriors in a game that saw Tehachapi controlling the clock with its rhythmic offense.
Hutchinson finished with 139 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. Troffer pounded his way up the middle for 136 yards on 27 carries.
"At times we played really good on defense and offense," Tehachapi coach Steve Denman said.
"Other times we played like we did when we got beat by Shafter and Taft."
The Warriors scored as the first quarter was winding down when Hutchinson found the end zone on a 7-yard sweep.
The Warriors got two more quick points after a Mike Faulkner safety two plays later, giving Tehachapi a 9-0 lead. Dinuba got as close as it would all night in the second quarter, scoring on a three-yard touchdown pass from Jose Del Rio to Michael Hinojosa that was set up by a 65-yard pass from Del Rio to Patrick Eubanks on the previous play. The Warriors, however, took a 23-6 lead into halftime after touchdowns by Hutchinson and Josh Lange late in the second quarter.
After a Dinuba fumble on its first drive of the second half, Tehachapi sealed the victory on Hutchinson's second touchdown of the game, once again set up by outside runs and dive plays that kept the Emperor defense on its heels.
Although his team lost, first-year Dinuba head coach Kevin Scharton is proud of his squad for proving the critics wrong.
"We weren't even supposed to be here," said Scharton. "They predicted us to finish last, but we matured. Our guys grew up and started playing some tough football."
Dinuba did score once more in the fourth quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Del Rio to Eubanks. The Warriors also got six more points late in the fourth when Jeremy Clarke broke loose for a 49-yard score.
The Warriors will face Yosemite (10-1) in the semifinals next Friday.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final Dinuba 0 6 0 6 12 Tehachapi 9 14 7 6 36
The Scoring:
T- Hutchinson 7 run (Sullivan Kick)
T- Faulkner safety
D-Hinojosa 3 catch from Del Rio (pass failed)
T- Hutchinson 14 run (Sullivan kick)
T- Lantz 6 catch from Sanchez (Sullivan kick)
T- Hutchinson 8 run (Sullivan kick)
D- Eubanks 19 catch from Del Rio (run fail)
T- Clark 49 run (kick fail)
DINUBA vs TEHACHAPI GAME STATS
Dinuba THS First Downs 7 20 Rushes-Yards 18-67 48-313 Passing Yards 88 63 Comp-Att-Int 5-20-2 5-9-1 Total Yards 155 376 Punts 3-00.0 2-00.0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 5-2 Penalties 3-20 7-60
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:
RUSHING - Tehachapi, Hutchinson 20-139, Troffer 27-136, Clark 6-70 . Dinuba, Hall 10-51, Ochoa 7-5.
PASSING - Tehachapi, Sanchez 5-9-1 63 yards. Dinuba, Del Rio 3-7-2 88 yards.
RECEIVING - Tehachapi Christy 1-21, Altieri 2-17 yards, Greenan 1-15. Dinuba Eubanks 1-65, Hinojosa 2-20.