Liberty Patriots (Bakersfield) at Tehachapi
Friday, October 5, 2001
Posted by SCOTT A. MAYES, on Saturday October 06, 2001, by The Bakersfield Californian Easttom's TD Leads Tehachapi to 7-6 Victory
TEHACHAPI -- Derik Easttom may be playing quarterback for the Tehachapi High football team, but that doesn't mean he has to throw the football.
Easttom, a wide receiver playing in place of an injured Jared Warner, scored the Warriors' lone touchdown with his feet Friday in a 7-6 South Sequoia League victory over visiting Liberty. Tehachapi improved to 3-1, 1-0 in the SSL, while Liberty fell to 2-2, 0-1.
Easttom scored on a third-and-20 play with 9 minutes, 43 seconds remaining in the game for a 7-0 advantage by scrambling for a 22-yard touchdown. He also earned a first down on a third-and-4 play with 1:52 remaining, sealing the victory.
"We were trying to pass, but they were covering us pretty well," Easttom said. "So we ran an option to the right side (on the touchdown). The right side of our line (Chad Ohl-Trlica and Matt Whitlock) opened a big hole. You could have driven a truck through that hole. Both teams studied each other really good. I was just fortunate that I got the 20-yard gain."
Following the Easttom score, Liberty answered with a 9-play, 70-yard drive on the ensuing possession, culminating with a 10-yard touchdown strike from Zak Bolton to Mike Crawford.
But the all-important extra point kick failed as the Warriors' special teams tackled holder Jon Pruett following a poor snap-and-hold exchange by the Patriots.
The Warriors outgained Liberty 296-136 in total yardage.
Running back Gary Evans led the way with 156 yards on 17 carries, while Danny Vandeventer ran for 65 yards on 15 carries.
Bolton passed for 55 yards and rushes for a team-high 46 yards for the Patriots. Crawford caught three passes for 35 yards and a touchdown.
While the game was settled by the failed extra point attempt, a third quarter touchback turned out to be the backbreaker for the Patriots.
Tehachapi put together a seven-play, 47-yard drive to open the second half, but Evans fumbled the ball at the Liberty 30-yard line.
Chris Shipp picked up the loose ball and rambled 70 yards for what looked like a sure touchdown -- but linebacker Josh Christy tracked him down. Shipp fumbled the ball out of the side of the end zone for the touchback.
"That play in the end zone -- that was critical. We just weren't real happy with the way the game was handled," said Liberty coach Rick Van Horne, whose team was flagged six times for unsportsmanlike conduct.
It was handled by the defenses in the first half, with Tehachapi mounting the only scoring threat.
On the Warriors' first play of the game, Evans took the ball on a sweep around the right side for 68 yards to the Liberty 8-yard line. It looked like Evans would score untouched, but he was caught from behind by Bolton. A second down pass into the end zone was dropped by tight end Chris Denman and Tehachapi settled for a 24-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked by Pruett.
Liberty didn't cross the 50-yard line in the first half and didn't have a first down in the opening quarter.
With little offense, a touchback on a fumble and a bobbled PAT, Tehachapi coach Steve Denman was just happy to earn the win.
"That's the way the night went," Denman said. "Every weird play -- we had it. I'm glad to be the victor, but we have a lot of respect for Liberty."
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final Liberty 0 0 0 6 06 Tehachapi 0 0 0 7 07
The Scoring:
Fourth Quarter:
Teh – Easttom 22 yard run (Murphy PAT kick)
Lib – Crawford 10 yard pass from Bolton (PAT kick failed)
Liberty vs Tehachapi Statistics
LHS THS First Downs 6 13 Rushes-Yards 22-81 51-291 Passing Yards 55 5 Comp-Att-Int 6-12-1 1-7-0 Total Yards 136 296 Punts N/A N/A Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1 Penalties 11-111 7-60
Individual Statistics:
RUSHING -- Liberty: Bolton 10-46, Harker 12-35. Tehachapi: Evans 17-156, Vandeventer 15-65,
Troffer 9-42, Easttom 8-23, Bennett 1-3, Young 1-2.
PASSING -- Liberty: Bolton 6-12-1-55. Tehachapi: Easttom 1-7-0-5.
RECEIVING -- Liberty: Crawford 3-35, Nunez 1-12, Miller 1-9, Pruett 1-(-1). Tehachapi: Denman 1-5.
JV -- Liberty 23, Tehachapi 7