BRAVES ONE GAME AWAY...DOWN SHAFTER WITH 39 FIRST HALF POINTS - CLINCH AT LEAST SHARE OF SSL TITLE

TEHACHAPI NEWS - The Tehachapi High Junior Varsity Football team added another victory to a stellar year when the Braves defeated Shafter 39-0 Friday at Coy Burnett Field.

The Braves scored all 39 points in the first half with three touchdowns in the first and three in the second quarter, while rushing for 268 yards and scoring in the first half on every possession.

Key in dominating the first half and the game was the Tehachapi defense that recovered four fumbles and blocked a Shafter punt deep in the Generals' territory.  Taliulu recovered two fumbles in teh second quarter for the Braves with Trevor Stein and Brad Taylor jumping on one each in the game.  Gabe Bressler also blocked a Shafter punt in the second to set up another THS score.

Shafter fumbled on its first possession, handing the Braves great field position early on.  Josh Mendez hit the first THS touchdown on a four-yard carry at 6:47, capping a five play drive by the Braves.  Mendez finished the game with 63 yards rushing.

Shafter got caught again deep in its own territory, setting up Bressler's first of two touchdowns from teh 40-yard line.  Bresller added a second TD in the first half on a 24-yard run and finished the game with 112 yards rushing on seven carries.

The Braves took a 21-0 lead before the end of the first quarter on a one-yard TD by Ronnie Overturf and Vincent Saavedra kick his third PAT.  Saavedra ended the evenings kicking three for six PATs.

In the second quarter, Stefan Bekker ran an 18-yard TD to take a 33-0 lead and Bressler iced the game when he caught a 14-yard pass from Levi Lantz to account for the Braves' 39-0 final score and lead at halftime.

Braves defender Kyle Herman intercepted a Shafter pass early in the fourth, but a fumble three plays later ended the THS drive.

Leading the Braves' defense with six tackles, including back-to-back tackles, was Cale Lykins.  Nick Engraf, Steven Tercy, and Jeff Waldram turned in solid defensive performances.

The Braves are set to open the final game of the season in Bakersfield at Golden Valley.  Kickoff is at 5pm.