1990 Warriors
Warriors Capture 2nd Straight DIL Title
Eric Young Shatters Warrior Running Records
For the fourth consecutive year, the Warriors advanced to the CIF Division IX championship game! Only this time, the opponent WAS NOT the Carpinteria Warriors, but the opponent was just as difficult.
Tehachapi had the daunting task of facing the 12-0 Whittier Christian Harolds at Bakersfield College, where the estimated attendance was 4,500 fans. Against the Harolds, Tehachapi Quarterback Ryan Grimes threw two touchdowns, one to Eric Parks and the other to Josh Rathbone, to help the Warriors climb out of a 14-0 hole in the first half to go into halftime tied 14-14.
With time winding down in the fourth quarter, the Warriors were down 27-21 and on offense at their own 37-yard line. However, with 4:34 to go in the game, Harold defensive back David Whitby intercepted a Grimes pass at midfield, thwarting the Warriors last opportunity to tie or potentially go ahead in the game. After the turnover, Whittier Christian went 47 yards in nine plays to seal the game with 0:28 seconds left and the final count of 34-21. The game was a heartbreaker, but there were many positives out of the Tehachapi season.
The Warriors finished the 1990 campaign with an overall 12-2 record; and won their second straight DIL championship by going 5-0 in league play. The league title wasn’t decided until week 10 however, when the 4-0 DIL Bishop Broncos came to Tehachapi for a mountain visit. Behind the 232 rushing yards and four touchdowns of Eric Young, Tehachapi won their second consecutive league title, crushing the Broncos, 35-3.
Individually, the Warriors placed seven players on the ALL-DIL first team. They were Shane Dees (lineman), Richard Villines (lineman), Steve Conway (center), Eric Young (running back), Wesley Dearmore (lineman), Ottis Goodwin (lineman), and Brian Stevens (defensive end). Also receiving DIL honorable mention was Steve Dyer (lineman), Tim Grell (defensive end), Vince Galan (defensive lineman), Vern Hodge (linebacker), Todd Fink (defensive back), and Josh Rathbone (kicker).
The Warrior defense was rated #1 in Kern County statistic wise during the regular season, holding opponents to only 630 yards rushing and 993 yards passing.
The Tehachapi offense was rated fifth in the County, racking up 2,428 yards on the ground and 681 through the air. Ryan Grimes led Tehachapi with 64 completions and 1,020 yards passing and 13 touchdowns during the 14 game season. But the mainstay of the Warrior offense was running, with most of it being by Young, who finished the regular season with the most rushing yards in Kern County in 1990 with 1,786 yards and 24 touchdowns on 276 carries. For the year, Young paced the Warriors by scoring 34 TD's, 204 points, and rushing for 2,496 yards (according to Cal Hi Sports) in 355 caries. Young set a single game record for the Warriors by rushing the ball 48 times (255 yards; 2 TD's) in one game versus Desert High on October 26th.
In 1990, Coach Steve Denman was quoted saying that Young “has great quickness and accelerates into the hole as well as anyone. He’s not very big but his balance is tremendous and he’s a tough kid. Tacklers bounce off of him like a ping pong ball ... he’s one of those guys who never says a word and just works hard. We knew he’d do a good job as long as he stayed healthy and he’s done that. He’s a very durable runner with a lot of heart.”
For his efforts during the 1990 season, Young was named the CIF Southern Section, Division IX, Player of the Year.
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| OPPONENT | THS | OPP | L | GAME HIGHLIGHT | |
| Sep 7 | Taft | 08 | 25 | A | Demitri Segal: 1TD |
| Sep 14 | Serrano (Phelan) | 35 | 00 | H | Eric Young: 2 TD's, 123 yds. rushing |
| Sep 21 | Wasco | 33 | 00 | H | Ryan Grimes: 2 TD's, 119 yds. passing |
| Sep 28 | Shafter | 28 | 10 | A | Eric Young: 3 TD's, 144 yds. rushing |
| Oct 5 | Garces (Bakersfield) | 30 | 13 | H | Eric Young: 3 TD's, 264 yds. rushing |
| Oct 12 | Paraclete (Lancaster)* | 35 | 00 | H | Eric Young: 3 TD's, 149 yds. rushing |
| Oct 19 | Mojave* | 25 | 14 | A | Eric Young: 2 TD's, 125 yds. rushing |
| Oct 26 | Desert (Edwards AFB)* | 21 | 13 | A | Eric Young: 2 TD's, 255 yds. rushing |
| Nov 2 | Kern Valley (Lake Isabella)* | 38 | 20 | A | Eric Young: 4 TD's, 281 yds. rushing |
| Nov 9 | Bishop* | 35 | 03 | H | Eric Young: 4 TD's, 232 yds. rushing |
* Denotes League Game
| OPPONENT | THS | OPP | L | GAME HIGHLIGHT | |
| Nov 16 | Moorpark | 48 | 07 | H | Eric Young: 4 TD's, 233 yds. rushing |
| Nov 23 | Lutheran (Orange) | 27 | 07 | A | Eric Young: 3 TD's, 161 yds. rushing |
| Dec 1 | Beaumont | 27 | 21 | H | Eric Young: 1 TD's, 120 yds. rushing |
| Dec 8 | Whittier Christian | 21 | 34 | A | Ryan Grimes: 2 TD's, 86 yds. passing |