Golden West-Visalia at Tehachapi
September 27, 2024
The Warriors Kaidon Hagerty #8 looks to gain yardage against Golden West of Visalia. The Trailblazers won the game
in overtime 24-21. The next game is at East Bakersfield on Thursday, October 3 at 7:320 pm.
(Photo credits by DeAnna Nicholson and Jenifer Michael)
Posted by The Tehachapi News on September 29, 2024. Mountain Football Falls In Overtime To Golden West
Warrior football had the daunting task of taking on a highly-touted passing offense when a Visalia-Golden West team ranked in the
top 25 of the Central Section came to Coy Burnett Stadium Friday evening.
Tehachapi (3-2) jumped out to an early lead and made their presence felt on the line of scrimmage. However, in the end, the Trailblazers
escaped the mountain with a 24-21 overtime victory.
After forcing a three-and-out on Golden West’s first possession, Tehachapi orchestrated an eight-play, 66-yard drive and capped it
with a Colton Michael one-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
Tehachapi’s second drive of the game had similar results, churning a 76-yard drive into another touchdown when Adrian Pina crossed
the goal line on a 14-yard run. At the start of the second quarter, an upset was brewing with
the Warriors taking a commanding 14-0 lead.
Golden West would go on to score two touchdowns to tie the contest at 14-14 heading into halftime.
In the second half, both teams would go scoreless in the third quarter, but the Warriors would retake the lead at the beginning
of the final period with a Roland Pina 11-yard touchdown run. That would end up being the final score for Mountain Football,
with the Trailblazers tying the game with just under two minutes in regulation and securing the victory with an overtime field goal.
Despite the loss, the Warriors had an impressive output with 246 rushing yards. Leading the ground game was Roland Pina with 90 yards
and Adrian Pina with 88 yards. Kaidon Hagerty also had 67 yards receiving followed by Andrew Aguirre with a 29-yard reception.
Michael finished the game with 112 yards passing on nine completions.
Defensively, Tylere Lombardi had an outstanding game with 17 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass defended, followed by
Mason Rothermel (11 tackles, two sacks, three hurries), Jacob Meza (11 tackles, two sacks, four hurries, fumble caused)
and Leo Gonzalez (11 tackles, three sacks, seven hurries). Other standouts included Cayden King (six tackles, sack,
two hurries), Adrian Pina (six tackles, sack), Carter Kolesar (six tackles, interception), Hayden Michael (five tackles, hurry)
and Ethan Cardenas (five tackles, sack, five hurries).
On special teams, Kolesar also continued his dominant kicking performance on the season with four touchbacks on kickoffs.
The Warriors will start the South Yosemite Mountain League season this week with an away contest at East Bakersfield this
Thursday night. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity Warriors Lose To Trailblazers
The underclassmen Warriors had a chance to take the lead with just over two minutes remaining in the game with a two-point conversion try,
but the run fell just short of the goal line and Golden West was able to hold on for a 20-19 victory.
The Warriors (1-3-1) had a strong afternoon on offense from Jorge Garcia, who had 142 yards rushing and a touchdown run.
Austin Rolow accounted for the other two touchdown runs for Tehachapi.
Leading the defense was Paxson Schulze with five tackles, an interception and a sack, followed by Isaiah Bachara, Rolow, Peyton Popejoy,
and Kane Harding with four tackles apiece. Jackson Robinson also recorded a sack.
The Warriors will be in action again this Thursday afternoon in their first league contest of the season against East. Kickoff against
the Blades will be at 5 p.m. in Bakersfield.
Posted by The Bakersfield Californian, on September 29, 2024. Golden West-Visalia 24, Tehachapi 21, OT
In the overtime period, Matthew Garza had a 23-yard field goal on Golden West’s opening possession
and Rowen Collins recorded an interception on Tehachapi’s ensuing drive to help propel
the Trailblazers to a non-league road victory.
Golden West (4-1) tied the contest at 21-21 with less than two minutes remaining in the game
when Case Anders dove into the endzone on a seven-yard run, capping a 72-yard drive.
Anders finished the game with 87 yards on 18 carries.
Isaac Elias provided the spark on offense for the Trailblazers with 125 yards receiving on five receptions,
which included hauling in a 11-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Golden West had success
in their passing attack with Jayden Najera registering 10 completions for 226 yards.
Isaac Oceguera was the other main target with 70 yards on three receptions.
Defensively, Isaac Saddler had a fumble return for a touchdown just before halftime.
For Tehachapi (3-2), Roland Pina and Adrian Pina both combined for 178 yards and a touchdown run
apiece to lead the ground game, which churned out 246 yards rushing overall.
Quarterback Colton Michael had nine completions for 112 yards, with his main target being Kaidon Hagerty
with six receptions for 67 yards. Michael also had a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final Golden West 0 14 0 7 3 24 Tehachapi 7 7 0 7 0 21
Golden West vs Tehachapi Statistics
GWHS THS First Downs 18 Rushes-Yards 32-121 49-246 Passing Yards 210 112 Comp-Att-Int 9-13-1 9-13-1 Total Yards 331 358 Punts N/A 5-32.6 Penalties N/A 4-31
Individual Statistics:
RUSHING - Golden West: Najera 14-35, Garcia 1-(-1), Anders 17-90.
Tehachapi: Brooks 5-25, Pina A. 15-88, Pina R. 19-90, Hagerty 2-6, Aguirre 4-18.
PASSING — Golden West: Najera 10-20-210. Tehachapi: Michael 9-13-112
RECEIVING — Golden West: Elisa 5-110, Oceguera 3-70, Sprata 1-17, Pina 1-13.
Tehachapi: Hagerty 6-67, R. Pina 2-16, Aguirre 1-29.
Varsity Records: Tehachapi 3-2 Golden West-Visalia 4-1
