Tehachapi at West High (Bakersfield)
Friday, October 19, 2023
AJ Anderson #4 finished the game with 2 rushing touchdowns and an 89 yard kickoff
return to help the Warriors cap an undefeated regular season. Mike Jones (#33) had a touchdown
and 5 tackles on defense. QB Jacob Root #6 had a passing touchdown.
(Photo by Vicky Shea, The Tehachapi News)
Posted by The Tehachapi News Sports Staff on October 22, 2023. Warriors Take Down West in SYML Finale
Another memorable chapter in the storied history of Mountain Football just clinched a significant milestone.
In 10 games so far, Tehachapi (10-0, 4-0 SYML) has outscored its opposition 425-86 for an astounding
34-point average margin of victory per game.
With the achievement, the Warriors capped a perfect regular season and a second-straight South Yosemite Mountain
League championship after a convincing 38-13 victory over West.
The result was never in doubt over the Vikings, with the Warriors forcing two fumble recoveries
from Logan Miles and Andrew Aguirre and scoring on five drives in the first half to jump out to a 31-0 halftime lead.
AJ Anderson paced the ground game, scoring two touchdowns and 62 yards rushing and Mike Jones
adding 55 yards rushing and a score.
Aguirre also had an 18-yard touchdown reception from Jacob Root, who finished with 54 yards passing.
Other receptions came from Kaleb Songer on a 24-yard completion and Cyler Hoofard with two catches for 12 yards.
In special team highlights, Carter Kolesar had a 36-yard field goal in the first quarter and Anderson
iced the game with an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open up the third quarter.
Defensively, Tehachapi was relentless in the first half, allowing only two net yards of offense
and zero first downs to the Vikings. Leading the way was Adrian Navarro with 11 tackles,
followed by Tylere Lombardi (10 tackles), Liddon Scott (nine tackles), Cayden King (seven tackles),
Mason Rothermel (five tackles), Jones (five tackles), Ruben Sedano (five tackles), Levi Hart (five tackles),
Gabe Fowlkes (four tackles) and Tanner Gary (four tackles, sack).
The victory gives Tehachapi their first undefeated regular season this century. According to Vince Elizondo / thswarriors.com,
this year’s squad is the eighth team to go undefeated in the regular season.
The other undefeated years were 1997, 1993, 1981, 1980, 1973, 1956 and 1951.
This latest SYML championship is the 32nd football league title in school history.
With the regular season concluded, the Warriors will be on a bye this week and learn their
fate in the CIF Central Section playoffs scheduled for next Friday, Nov. 3. Playoff bracket announcements
will be posted on X (formally twitter) on @tehachapisports this Saturday afternoon.
Junior Varsity wins second-consecutive SYML title
The Warriors won their 24th JV football title in school history with a 52-0 demolition over West.
Austin Tripodi had 123 yards rushing and three touchdowns to lead the offense, while Connor Craig
also had two touchdowns on the ground.
Other scores came from Colton Michael and Austin Rolow on rushing touchdowns.
Tristan Smith also had 63 yards rushing and Thaddeus Dyer had a 20-yard reception.
On special teams, Ethan Cardenas had a 23-yard field goal and had two kickoffs that went for touchbacks.
Cardenas also went 5-5 on PATs and Adrian Anaya went 2-2 on PATs.
Defensively, Jacob Meza and Junior Alaniz both had six tackles apiece, followed by Diego Reyes
with four tackles and Johnny Estrada, Liam Smith and Emmett Williams with three tackles each.
Anaya and Cardenas also had fumble recoveries.
