Posted July 31, 2019 by thswarriors.com Warriors Begin Fall Practice
Mountain Football Optimistic For 2019 Season
Despite a disappointing 2018 season, Warrior head coach Doug Degeer is optimistic about the 2019 season and a quick turn-around for Mountain Football.
In his third year as the head coach, Degeer welcomed over 60 enthusiastic players to fall practice which began Monday, July 29. The Warriors first taste of competitive football is less than three weeks away with a controlled scrimmage against South Bakersfield scheduled for August 16 at Coy Burnett Field. The scrimmage will begin at 6:00 pm.
The 2019 schedule will feature 10 regular season games with a somewhat unusual scheduling flaw with only four home games against six out-of-town games. The season opener is scheduled for Friday, August 23, at Wasco.
In his first season as the head coach, Degeer led the Warriors to a share of the South Yosemite League crown and advanced to the third round of the valley playoffs.
The joys of the 2017 season were quickly erased as the Warriors suffered through a dismal 2-8 season in 2018. The Warriors had their first losing season since 2005 and failed to advance to the post-season playoffs for the first time since 1995.
The five pre-league games feature the same opponents as last year, only the location of the games have been flip-flopped. The Warriors play in Wasco on August 23 and hope to avenge the 28-22 loss in Tehachapi last season. The Warriors hold a 25-12 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools which dates back to the 1930's. Second year coach Chad Martinez will continue to employ the running game through the triple option offense. The orange-and-black clad Tigers finished 9-4 last seaon; third in the South Sequoia League.
Week 2 (August 30) will bring the powerful Division I Bakersfield High Drillers up the mountain for the first time in school history (at the varsity level). The Warriors played the BHS junior varsity a number of times in the 1940's and 1950's, including games in Tehachapi. The Drillers hold a 2-0 series lead defeating the Warriors 14-6 in 2001 and 57-7 last year. Veteran Driller coach Paul Golla left BHS to become the new coach at Garces High. Michael Stewart, a BHS grad, will take over as the new head coach. Stewart is a former Fresno State football star, and played a number of years in the NFL for the Rams and Dolphins. His 2019 Drillers are loaded with talent as a number of players are Division I college prospects. Brothers Isaac and Ian Jernagin return for the Drillers along with RB Wesley Johnson and WR DJ Adams. Easily playing the toughest schedule in Kern County, the Drillers finished 9-4 in 2018 (4-1 in the Southwest Yosemite League behind Liberty).
In Week 3 (Sep. 6) the Warriors travel to Taft hoping to make it seven straight wins over the Wildcats. Tehachapi soundly defeated Taft, 34-15, in 2018. The Warriors lead the all-time series with Taft 15-7, last losing in 2011 by a final 7-6 count. Taft finished the 2018 season with a 2-8 overall record; 0-6 in the South Sequoia League.
The Warriors are back on the road in Week 4 (Sep. 13) for a game in Bakersfield against Highland High School. The Warriors lead the overall series 6-3-1 but got whipped by the Scots 47-12 in 2018. Highland finished with a winning 7-5 overall record in 2018; 3-2 in Southeast Yosemite League play.
The final non-league tune up game in Week 5 (Sep. 20) will be on the mountain against rival Garces High School. The last time Garces came up to Tehachapi in 2017, the Warriors defeated Garces in a dramatic 28-27 overtime victory. Last season Garces won the big game 35-7 in Bakersfield. Garces has a new coach in veteran Paul Golla, who left BHS after coaching the Driller program for 14 years. Golla likes what he sees in quarterback Joseph Campbell who lit up the evening sky for 3,533 passing yards and 19 TD's in 2018. His favorite target is senior wide receiver Isaiah Bell. Garces finished the 2018 campaign with a dismal 4-8 overall record; 2-3 in the tough Southwest Yosemite League.
Now known as the Ogilvie Bowl (named after former Ram and Warrior coach Gary Ogilvie), Garces and Tehachapi have met 47 previous times with Garces holding a 25-20-2 overall series lead. The 48th meeting between the two schools means Garces is now tied with Bishop as the opponent the Warriors have played more than any other school in the history of the storied football program.
After a Bye Week on September 27, the Warriors will begin South Yosemite League (SYL) play on Friday night, October 4, against Independence in Bakersfield.
The Warriors will play defending league champion Bakersfield Christian on October 11 in Bakersfield.
The final three league games will be Golden Valley on October 18 in Tehachapi; Ridgeview on the mountain October 25; and the league finale at West Bakersfield on November 1.
Coach DeGeer and his staff are looking forward to returning to the valley playoffs as a Division III participant. Other DIII teams for playoff purposes include Bakersfield Christian; Independence; West Bakersfield; and Highland-Bakersfield.
It should be a great season for mountain football. Please contact the Warrior Booster Club for ticket information.
2019 Regular Season Schedule
(Click On Individual Opponent For Series History)
OPPONENT THS OPP L SERIES HISTORY Aug 23 Wasco 00 00 A The Warriors lead the series, 25-12. Aug 30 Bakersfield High Drillers 00 00 H The Drillers lead the series, 2-0. Sep 6 Taft 00 00 A The Warriors lead the series, 19-12-1. Sep 13 Highland (Bakersfield) 00 00 A The Warriors lead the series, 6-3-1. Sep 20 Garces (Bakersfield) 00 00 H The Rams lead the series, 25-20-1 Oct 4 Independence (Bakersfield) * 00 00 A The Falcons lead the series, 3-2. Oct 11 Bakersfield Christian * 00 00 A The Warriors lead the series, 5-4. Oct 18 Golden Valley (Bakersfield) * 00 00 H The Warriors lead the series, 6-2. Oct 25 Ridgeview (Bakersfield) * 00 00 H The Warriors lead the series, 6-3. Nov 1 West High (Bakersfield) * 00 00 A The Warriors lead the series, 7-2. * Denotes South Yosemite League Game
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