1974 Warriors
The 1974 Warriors include, bottom row, left to right, Scott Dye, Charlie Longcrier, Mark Lopez, Mike Ricker, Joe Mata, Paul Sanchez, Dan Pinheiro, and Nathan Ogan;
second row, Dale Hamon, Albert Brown, Wayne Hopper, Pat Summit, Jeff Johnston, Rick Pinheiro, Ken James, Jon Morris, Joaquin Murguia;
third row, Mike Capanas (partial picture), Joe Verdugo, Brian Santman, Simon Aguilar, Steve Barker, Kevin Reeder, Mike Shelton, Calvin Fredrickson, Pat Hawkins;
back row, manager Manuel Herrera, Mike Backes, Kent Perkins, Dan Sesma, Tom Freeman, Steve Denman, Chet Bowles, manager Lonnie Reynolds, and photographer Lewis Wakeland.
The 1974 Warriors, under fourth year head coach Gary Ogilvie, finished in second place in the Desert-Inyo League with an impressive 7-1 league record; 9-2 overall record. Warriors Settle For 2nd Place in DIL
After Shocking Loss To Bishop In Final Seconds
A pre-season favorite, the Warriors shutout their first three opponents, defeating Trona, 24-0; topping Desert, 20-0; and knocking off Rosamond, 17-0.
This set up a Week 4 showdown on the mountain with long time rival Bishop. The Broncos entered the game undefeated as well. In a well played contest,
the Warriors were leading the Broncos 13-10 going into the final few minutes of the game. On the last play of the game, before a stunned hometown crowd,
with no time left on the clock, the Broncos pulled out a miracle touchdown and defeated the Warriors, 16-13. Bishop would go on to win the DIL with an undefeated record.
The Warriors rebounded from the heartbreaking loss to win their next five straight regular season games.
The Warrior team combined a balanced offensive attack with a great defense to finish the regular season with an 8-1 record. On offense,
quarterback Steve Denman would combine his passing skills with the ground game of flashy Joe Mata and bruising running back Charlie Longcrier.
Sure footed Kicker Scott Dye would also contribute to the offense with 30-34 PAT kicks and several field goals.
The Warrior defense received rave reviews all year long allowing only 29 points during the regular season and
shutting out six different opponents --- tieing a school record for most shutouts in a season.
In the CIF playoffs, the Warriors defeated the Fillmore Flashes in a thrilling overtime CIF tiebreaker game
(regulation play ended in a 14-14 tie). Denman completed 8 of 13 passes for 64 yards.
The following week, on the mountain, the Warrior season came to an end against a powerful Whittier Christian team.
Denman had his finest passing performance of the season completing 12 of 19 passes for 195 yards.
Denman finished the season with 65 completed passes in 108 attempts for 862 passing yards. In his stellar two-year career
as the varsity quarterback, Denman completed 147 passes for over 2,000 yards passing!
Earning all-league 1st team honors were quarterback Steve Denman, def. end Scott Dye, lineman Tom Freeman,
and linebacker Charlie Longcrier. Freeman earned all-league honors on BOTH offense and defense.
Denman and Longcrier were named the Most Valuable Players of the team by the coaching staff. Joe Mata led the team
in rushing (943 yards rushing in 171 carries) while Mark Lopez led the team in pass receptions.
Ogilvie would end his four year head coaching career at Tehachapi with a fine 35-7-0 overall record including two league championships and playoff appearances all four years.
(Ogilvie would return as the head coach for the Warrior program from 1979-1981.)
Tight end Mark Lopez (#84) makes a catch for a touchdown in a CIF first round contest
against the Fillmore Flashes. The Warriors defeated Fillmore in overtime 15-14.
Click Here For
LISTING OF DIL CHAMPS
FROM 1957-1991
Game-by-Game Results
OPPONENT THS OPP L GAME HIGHLIGHT Sep 20 Trona 24 00 A Steve Denman: 2 TD's Rushing Sep 27 Desert (Edwards AFB) 20 00 A Matt Ogan: 1 TD, 55 yd. int. return Oct 4 Rosamond 17 00 A Jon Morris: 1 TD Pass Rec. Oct 11 Bishop 13 16 H Steve Denman: 2 TD's Rushing Oct 18 Boron 14 10 A Mark Lopez: 1 TD Pass Rec. Oct 25 Mojave 21 00 H Steve Denman: 2 TD's Rushing Nov 2 St. Joseph (Santa Maria) * 27 00 A Charlie Longcrier: 2 TD's Rushing Nov 8 Kern Valley (Lake Isabella) 35 00 H Steve Denman: 2 TD's, 94 yds. rushing Nov 15 Lone Pine 66 03 H Joe Mata: 2 TD's, 106 yds. rushing
* Denotes Non League Game
CIF Southern Section 1A Playoffs
OPPONENT THS OPP L GAME HIGHLIGHT Nov 22 Fillmore 15 14 A Mark Lopez: 1 TD Pass Rec. Nov 29 Whittier Christian 21 35 H Joe Mata: 1 TD, 103 yds. rushing
A Bishop running back (in white with ball) dives into the end zone with no time left on the clock to give Bishop a last second victory over the Warriors.
Tehachapi linemen Scott Dye (#85), Mike Shelton, Charlie Longcrier (#35), and Pat Summit (#75) were in on the action. The heart breaking loss
cost the Warriors the 1974 championship, settling for 2nd place in the Desert-Inyo League.
