NO SENIORS...NO LEAGUE...NO PROBLEM?
Posted 11-19-01
Schools sure are popping up left and right all over the valley the past couple of years, and with it, inaugural football seasons.
In 1995, the Warriors knocked off a first year Ridgeview squad, 27-0. After that opening season loss, the senior-less Wolfpack went on to a 0-9 record the rest of the way. The last all-junior team Tehachapi played, Liberty, combined for an overall record of 1-9 in their first year of football action, with their lone victory of the season came against Granite Hills of Porterville, another all-junior team.
As you can see, the prospect of playing first year varsity teams without a senior class has usually not been a cause for concern, but we’ve never seen a first year program like the Clovis East Timberwolves either.
If you compare Clovis East with the first year Ridgeview and Liberty programs, you have team that looks prime to do some serious damage next year. As a matter of fact, they’ve done some serious damage this year. Here’s an overall breakdown of the Timberwolves opponents and scores this season:
Orosi 21-7 W
LeGrand 35-16 W
Porterville 29-20 W
Delano 28-24 W
Washington Union 14-24 L
Central 31-44 L
Strathmore 36-0 W
Madera 35-13 W
Chowchilla 22-25 L
They are 6-3, with just juniors and sophomores. Take a minute to reflect on that. If you look at them “as a weak and young junior laden squad” and have a hard time believing that they are for real, then Clovis East has you right where they want you. So far this year, they have limited the large school sequoia division’s number one seed Washington Union to only 172 yards on the ground in a ten point losing effort. Also, they were very impressive against the current Yosemite Large School’s third seeded Central, tacking on 325 yards of total offense in the thirteen-point loss to the Grizzlies. For the season, the Timberwolves have averaged over 273 yards of offense, and given up an average of only 141 yards on the ground to the opposition.
So what makes these guys tick?
Clovis East runs the double wing, an offense that Wasco currently uses and one that McFarland used a couple of years ago. The offense is similar to the Wing-T, with the misdirection play and running game a staple of the offense. Tim Murphy, head coach of Clovis East, brings his knowledge of the Double Wing from Ignacio Valley High School in Concord. At Ignacio Valley, Murphy guided his football club to the most points ever scored against Concord De La Salle in its current 123 game winning streak, scoring 33 points against the Spartans a few years back.
Also, one of the major reasons the Double Wing has been effective this year is because of the supporting cast that Murphy has to run it. The Timberwolves are lead by three quality wingbacks, with the cornerstone being Alex Prevender, who has rushed for 673 yards and twelve touchdowns. The other two wingbacks that will get a lot of action this Friday are Richie Flores and Casey Hammond, who have combined for 686 yards and 8 touchdowns so far this year on the ground.
Taking the snaps for Clovis East will be Joey Palacio, who has completed 11 passes for 236 yards. However, in a run oriented offense similar to Tehachapi’s, look for Palacio to run more than he throws on Friday night. In their nine game season, Palacio has rushed for 189 yards on 47 carries, reaching the end zone twice.
Based on these statistics, the equation (First Year Programs + No Seniors = Easy Win) seems to not really apply anymore, at least when talking about Clovis East. A quality football team is coming to play on The Mountain Friday night, and the Warriors will need to be at their best.
If the Warriors play with the same tenacity as they did in the regular season, the game should sway in Tehachapi’s favor, but unlike last years playoff run, it’s going to be tough from the get go.
Go get ‘em Warriors!
WEEKLY WARRIOR NOTES
----Ever wondered what its like to see the Fresno area’s version of “Mountain Football”? Well, if Arvin can’t pull off a huge upset this Friday, we’re all about to find out. Oakhurst and the Yosemite Badgers will host Tehachapi in a Warrior-like atmosphere in the semi’s if the seedings for all teams hold true after this week. The other SSL team, Liberty, is traveling to the only large school that has won their league title outright, Hanford West. The playoffs promise to be very competitive this year from top to bottom, so it will be interesting to see how Tehachapi’s league foes fair against two quality opponents. Good luck to both SSL teams!
----The Garces loss sure was a tough one to take in the chin.
I’m still not sure if it was the referees or the Garces defense that determined the outcome of the game, but I do know one thing, it was worth every bit of admission.
Officially, the book has been closed on the Ram/Warrior rivalry for the 2001 campaign. The ending is one that we may not have liked…but it’s over nonetheless. The logistics of the game will undoubtedly be one for debate for many years after this season is over, and, if anything else, I for one was glad I got to see it.
After reflecting back on the night, the play by both teams exemplified two squads that were well prepared for a prime time game. Unfortunately for Tehachapi, they were the team that had to end the night with a loss.
For the Warriors, the game was not without its positives. First and foremost, Tehachapi is SSL champions for the second straight year, and that’s nothing to scuff at. Since joining the league in 1992, Tehachapi has never won two titles in a row, tri-championship or otherwise. The claim of back-to-back supremacy is a significant milestone in the continued tradition of Mountain Football.
Another positive was the Warrior defensive effort. Garces’s offense came into the game as one of the valley’s best, but when the game was over, Tehachapi’s D was virtually mistake free with exception of the 81 yard touchdown scamper by Adam Cook. Congratulations to all the members of the Tehachapi defense for the inspiring play and heart on the Mountain!
In speaking of heart, there is Tehachapi player that sure has a lot of it. He’s number 24 in your program. Gary Evans exemplified the passion of the Warrior spirit all throughout the game in helping Tehachapi score their only three touchdowns.
Yes, you read that correctly, three touchdowns. No one is going to tell me otherwise, either.
Evans eluding ability and quick feet helped Tehachapi mount a quick 12-0 lead on the first two offensive plays from scrimmage, and it appeared that the Warriors were on their way to victory early on. The win, however, was not meant to be when the final Evans TD run was called back on a clipping call with a little over a minute to go in the fourth quarter.
Gary’s ability to find paydirt, rush for 148 yards on 13 carries, and overcome dizziness to be available when the team needed him the most has given him this week’s Warrior of the Week. Congratulations Gary, your heart has made us all proud!
WEEKLY WARRIOR PLAYER OF THE WEEK
