West Bakersfield at Tehachapi
November 4, 2016
Warrior assistant coaches, players and fans join head coach Steve Denman in celebrating his 300th career win Friday night at Coy Burnett Field.
Photo by John Nelson, The Tehachapi News.
Posted on November 4, 2016 by John Nelson, The Tehachapi News Denman Joins Exclusive Club
With 300th Coaching Victory
Warriors football coach Steve Denman hit the magic 300 number in the final game of the regular season as Tehachapi beat West 35-7 at home Friday night, Nov. 4.
With the victory, Denman became only the eighth head coach in California scholastic history to win 300 football games.
"It's not me, and I've always said that," Denman said on the field after the win. "It's about the community, our players, past players, past coaches and present coaches. It's everybody working together, that's what it's all about."
He said all season long that it wasn't a big deal, that he wasn't a numbers guy, but after winning No. 300, he couldn't ignore it any longer.
His players doused him with the Gatorade cooler, and the full house at Coy Burnett Field began to chant “300, 300, 300.” The Warriors cheerleaders, meanwhile, started a chant of “Denman, Denman, Denman.”
A large group of his former players spilled out onto the field, revealing black sweatshirts with the No. 300 emblazoned across the front under their jackets.
"You know, we've got guys over there from our '82 team, and for those guys to be mixed in with these guys here, that's really a neat thing," Denman said.
Former mayor and longtime Warriors booster Ed Grimes presented Denman with a plaque commemorating the 300th victory, and some of his current players began to chant: “Let's get 301.”
No. 300 came at the end of a 5-5 regular season that started off 0-4, casting doubt on whether Denman would reach the 300 mark this year. An improving Warriors team finished strong, however, winning four in a row and five of their last six to claim a share of the South Yosemite League title with a 4-1 record.
With CIF-CS division pairings due out on Saturday, Nov. 5, the Warriors were assured a chance to give Denman at least one more victory this season.
He's already in some pretty heady company as only the eighth head coach in California to ever reach 300, and he did it all in 35 years with the Warriors.
The others were Bob Ladouceur (399), Marijon Ancich (360), Herb Meyer (338), John Barnes (323), Lou Farrar (316), Bob Johnson (315) and Mike Marrujo (306).
Warrior QB Chris Garcia gets gang tackled by a host of West High Vikings. The Warriors won the game, 35-7, to capture a share of the SYL crown.
Photo by The Tehachapi News.
Posted by Tom Shea, The Bakersfield Californian, on Nov. 4, 2016. Denman Reaches 300-Win Milestone
As Tehachapi Beats West For Share of SYL Title
TEHACHAPI — Coy Burnett Stadium was overflowed beyond capacity in a historic night for Mountain Football, with those in attendance witnessing Tehachapi’s first-ever Yosemite-level league championship and coaching victory No. 300 for Warriors’ legend Steve Denman.
The Warriors had a late third quarter surge against visiting West en route to a 35-7 victory, securing a tri-championship in the South Yosemite League with Ridgeview and Independence.
Tehachapi (5-5, 4-1 SYL) scored on its first possession of the game, driving 68 yards on seven plays and scoring on a nine-yard Tyler Metzler touchdown run.
The game remained deadlocked at 7-0 until late in the third quarter, when costly turnovers by the Vikings set up four more Warrior scores.
Quarterback Chris Garcia opened the floodgates with a 14-yard touchdown run and then found Carson Bethany on a 43-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter.
Keyron Scott, who finished the night with 153 yards on the ground, raced for a seven-yard run, followed by Tyler Mata icing the win with a one-yard score, both early in the fourth quarter.
“We had so many people come to the game to celebrate this league championship and be a part of this great night,” said Denman. “Our players worked their tails off to get to this position. They made the commitment to finish the regular season strong. We are so proud of our kids.”
For West (1-9, 0-5 SYL), Andrew Shepard scored on a 3-yard run late in the fourth quarter, finishing the night with 62 yards rushing. Gabriel Salcido led the Viking passing attack with eight completions for 56 yards.
With his 300th victory, Denman becomes only the eighth head coach in the history of California to achieve the milestone. He also joins California coaching wins record holder Bob Ladouceur (Concord-De La Salle – 399) as the only coach to amass all 300victories at one high school.
In 35 years of coaching, Denman now has an overall record of 300-117-4 and will guide his team to their 31st playoff appearance next week. It is the 15th league title for Tehachapi under Denman’s tenure.
“It has never been about me. It is about this community, this school and our great coaches and kids over all these years,” Denman added. “Going on the journey with this town is what makes it special. This night was about Tehachapi.”
Warrior running back Keyron Scott #21 runs for big yardage Friday night against West Bakersfield. Scott rushed for 153 yards and scored one TD
as the Warriors defeated the Vikings, 35-7. Photo by The Tehachapi News.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final West High 0 0 0 7 07 Tehachapi 7 0 14 14 35
The Scoring:
1st Quarter:
T: Metzler 9 run (Graham kick)
3rd Quarter:
T: Garcia 14 run (Graham kick)
T: Bethany 43 pass from Garcia (Graham kick)
4th Quarter
T: Scott 7 run (Graham kick)
T: Matta 1 run (Graham kick)
W: Shepard 3 run (Rios kick)
West Bakersfield vs Tehachapi Stats
WHS THS First Downs Rushes-Yards 32-88 54-320 Passing Yards 56 57 Comp-Att-Int 8-22-1 2-6-0 Total Yards 144 377 Punts Fumbles-Lost Penalties
Individual Statistics:
RUSHING—Tehachapi: Scott 21-153, Metzler 5-44, Powell 8-42, Mata 8-38, Garcia 6-32, Dean 4-20, Timm 1-2, TEAM 1-(-11).
West: Shepard 9-62, Duplessis 7-29, Mason 2-26, Benjamin 3-13, Johnson 1-9, Salcido 8-0, TEAM 2-(-51).PASSING—Tehachapi: Garcia 2-6-0. West: Salcido 8-22-1.
RECEIVING—Tehachapi: Bethany 2-57. West: Mason 4-26, Henderson 2-20, Johnson 2-10.
Varsity Records: Tehachapi 5-5 (SYL 4-1). West High 1-9 (SYL 0-5).
JV: Tehachapi Braves 46, West JV's 07.
FROSH: Tehachapi Indians 06, West Frosh 29.
