DOWN...BUT NOT OUT
Posted 09-13-03

Above:  Alex Prevendar eyes the Warrior defense as the Timberwolves get set for their double-wing attack

Well boys and girls, the learning process you can take on Mountain Football's writing of a new chapter on Clovis football indoctrination can take many different perspectives.

From one standpoint, you could make the argument that Tehachapi played a superior opponent, a foe that would not allow a single point to any Tehachapi class (freshman, junior varsity, or varsity) in the three games played in week 2.  Yep, not one solitary punto...nada...82-zippo from the three games combined.

Focusing on the bad a little more, you could also say that the varsity score of 27-0 was the first time a Tehachapi offense was shutout in 74 football games, dating back to October 27, 1995, when the Warriors dropped a road loss against Wasco, 2-0.

And oh yeah...the last time Tehachapi started 0-2 on the season?  1991.  Twelve years ago.

"It's tough starting out the season like we are, but we still have a lot of season left," said Warrior Josh Lange. "We played a tough team (in Clovis East), so we have to learn from it and move on."

Learning from this game, more than anything, is probably the standpoint all parties associated with Mountain Football should take, from the players right on down to the Tehachapi Youth Football water boys.

The negatives can tend to be dwelling, especially since it tallies loss #2 after two games played.  But in reality, how many other sequoia teams out there can say they played two of the best teams in the southern and central section as their first two opponents?

Other than Tehachapi, not too many.

So...on that note, we get to our positives...you knew they were coming didn't you?  Yes...the tidbits and morsels we take from this loss that can help mold and shape a championship form....

and yes, pats on the back are deserved.

In the game on September 12, Tehachapi showed a little umph in their first half showing with five total first downs, which included a nice 10-yard run by Mike Wright on their first drive of the game, and strong plunges by Sean Finley and AJ Barcelona on the third drive, which logged three first downs overall.  Clovis East would only manage one TD in the first quarter, an Alex Prevendar scoring jaunt with eighteen minutes left before halftime.  

With the score sitting at 13-0 in favor of the 'Wolves at the start of the second half, Tanner Hutchinson would help engineer the offense with 31 yards on eight carries, but the real story of the night was the defense, led by Mike Faulkner, who had 14 tackles and 2 assists.

The Timberwolves, who seemingly had opportunities to score at will, were stymied at times by Faulkner, with the junior linebacker limiting the CE cluster of stars to a limited limelight in Lamonica Stadium.  Faulkner has been an anchor on a defense that has manned action between the hash-marks for this his 14th game, and gave a solid showing of what could be the start of a successful prep-career for #44 this year and next.

Manning the sidelines on defense along with Faulkner was Matt Patience, who also took advantage of opportunities when they came available at his defensive back position.  Patience helped jar the ball loose on Clovis East's first carry on offense in the second half, leading to an Anthony Scott recovery, while also contributing with seven solo tackles and two assists.  #3 also was able to pry the ball from Prevendar on Clovis East's second drive of the third quarter, but the recovered fumble by Tehachapi was ruled down-by-contact by the officials.

For both Mike and Matt's solid effort and heart in week 2, they are the weekly warrior players of the week.  Congratulations both of you, despite the score, you showed the spirit of hit and fly!

Mike Faulkner (#44) and Matt Patience (#3)
WEEKLY WARRIOR PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

And to the rest of the Warrior faithful, don't let pessimism creep into your head on league and CIF championship hopes, it's still very possible.  

Of note, that 1991 team that started 0-2...they ended up as 5-0 Desert-Inyo League Champions, and lost a nail-biter to Carpinteria in the CIF championship 14-7.  That year displayed a Tehachapi team that didn't quit in the early goings, which is a mentality that should transcend with the Warrior football class of 2003.

Also of note, there were many-a-Garces teams in the early '90s that received a severe thrashing from the Bakersfield Drillers...but those crafty-shifty Rams would still go on to win the SSL title.

'91 Warriors and the '90s Rams...two examples of teams that turned their negatives into positives... much like what Tehachapi can do this year with their young season.

Yep, that's right, title hopes are still out in the waiting...right there to grab and hold on to if Tehachapi can come to terms with the fact that the season will get much easier from here on out.

All in all sports fans, my thoughts on the last two weeks are pretty much cut and dry.  Mountain Football may be 0-2...they may be down...

but they're not out.

Above:  Action against the Clovis East Timberwolves

The match-up with Foothill in week 3 will be an important one for the Warriors, with the coaching staff and players looking to log in their first victory of the season before looking ahead to a tough rematch with East Yosemite foes Tulare Union and Delano. "Coming into this year, we all thought we'd be indestructible, but that's not turning out to be the case," said Lange. "We're figuring out the hard way that an undefeated freshman season and a 8-1 JV year (from our senior class) doesn't mean much on the varsity level...but we need to get back to those winning ways this year by starting (in week 3)." The player to watch against Foothill will be third-year starting quarterback Dan Ingle ... annoyingly known as "Ingle-bell rock" by the Bakersfield media.  Ingle has put up impressive numbers for Foothill in his high school tenure, posting 75 completions for the Trojans in 2002 for 1,040 yards and 4 scores.  As a sophomore, Ingle completed 18 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns against Tehachapi, and threw 13-19 for 200 yards and two touchdowns in 2002 against the green machine.  So far in Foothill's two losses this season, Ingle has nine completions for 115 yards and two TD's. Probably the most notable quality that Ingle possesses however has nothing to do with his accolades on the football field, but his loyalty for his school and teammates off it.  With many players jumping to "bigger and better" programs in the Bakersfield community, Ingle elected to stay with his Foothill teammates in his senior season, nullifying whispers from local prep enthusiasts that he might join 2002 Garces basketball standout Robert Swift at Bakersfield High School for the fall of 2003. "We remember Ingle, he's a good player (for Foothill)," said Patience.  "But our performance doesn't rest on what he does, our offense is key to getting on track in the game.  If we can get in the endzone then that should be the key for us this week...much more than anything." Hoping to stop Tehachapi from scoring for the Trojans will be returning defensive players Isaac Quiroz, Anthony Cercone, and Armando Torres on the defensive line, and Roy Davis and Brandin Ware in the backfield. On offense, Foothill returns speedy wideout Matt Alvarez, who caught four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown a year ago against Tehachapi.  Alvarez also doubles up as the team's kicker, booting two field goals through in the week 1 loss to North-Bakersfield. "We really want to win (the game against Foothill)," said Faulkner.  "We had two tough opponents to start out, but hopefully we can get a few wins before the league games." Above:  Last year's action verses the Foothill Trojans, Tehachapi won the 2002 contest, 34-21

Paying a visit on the sidelines at the three Warrior games in Clovis East last Thursday and Friday was former Warrior and Fresno State Standout Rodney Michael....who recently came back to the Fresno community after a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts.  After a few short conversations with Rodney, future plans have the former Warrior testing the waters in the arena league, with a scheduled tryout planned with the San Jose Sabercats within the next couple of months.  San Jose was the Arena Football League's 'Arena Bowl XVI' champions in 2002.  He also said that the Pittsburgh Steelers might be interested in a look-see sometime in the future...wish him luck!

Tehachapi is officially at the bottom of the barrell in the SSL record-wise...the only team in league to not have at least a win or a tie.  But take heart Warrior fans, the same team that Tehachapi faced in week 1 (Burroughs) throttled Wasco 58-0 in week 2.  Other games included Shafter posting a tie with Highland (the Scots are good at these) 7-7, Arvin upsetting South 28-24, Taft slipping past Woodlake 8-0, and Garces shocking the sequoia world with a 16-0 romp over #1 San Joaquin Memorial.  That win by the Rams should shake up Bob Barnett's rankings a bit...don't you think?

A special 'get well' goes out to Indians Chaz Hernandez and Lukas Harrington, victims of heat exhaustion at Clovis East in their game on Thursday.  I hope that a little rest and relaxation can get you guys back to good health soon!  Both players turned in good performances against the Timberwolves freshmen team, with Harrington putting up four tackles and Hernandez with one tackle in  the second quarter.