SECOND HALF LIFTS BRAVES OVER KNIGHTS, 32-8

TEHACHAPI NEWS - The Tehachapi high School junior varsity football team scored five touchdowns Friday in Bakersfield to defeat the Foothill jayvees 32-8 and remain undefeated.

The Braves scored on their first possession of the game with a seven-play drive capped with a 51-yard run by Gabe Bressler with 5:41 remaining in the first quarter. Vincent Saavedra kicked the Pat for a 7-0 lead.

Foothill responded on their first series of the game mounting a six-play drive that began at the 40 and scoring from the 16 with a touchdown pass. Foothill went on to complete six of 17 passes for 100 yards but couldn't find the end zone for the remainder of the game.

In the second the Braves got the Foothill 15 before the drive stalled a field goal attempt was wide of the mark but the Titans had the ball back for just one play before a fumble put the Braves in possession at the FHS 15. Anthony Rodriguez was credited with the recovery. Earlier in the second Jeff Waldram was credited with a fumble recovery at the 22.

Three plays later Alek Taliulu ran in a one-yard touchdown for what would become the winning score and his first of two TD's in the game. Taliulu finished with a rushing total of 34 yards on five carries.

The Braves secured the victory with a 15-yard touchdown run by Taliulu in the third and iced the game scoring twice in the fourth on runs of 17 yards and seven yard by Bressler and Louis James respectively. Bressler led the Braves with two touchdowns and rushed for 174 yards averaging 13 yards a carry. James ran the ball three times for 34 yards.

The Braves tallied 294 yards rushing. Foothill was held to 66 yards on the ground. The Braves completed two passes for 35 yards. Bressler caught a 16-pass in the first quarter and Shawn Pimenetel snagged a 30-yard catch in the second quarter to put the Braves inside the Foothill redzone.

The Braves defense played well sacking the Foothill Quarterback four times. Taliulu, Josh Mendez and Jake Harris were each credited with a solo sack. Steven Tercy and Robert Gibson were credited with half a sack each.

The Braves will open for the Warrior Friday on Coy Burnett Field hosting Stockdale. Stockdale lost to Clovis 14-12 last Friday in Bakersfield. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.