SHOCKDALE!

BRAVES OVERTAKE THE MUSTANGS IN IMPRESSIVE 20-7 WIN, IMPROVE TO 4-0

TEHACHAPI NEWS - The Tehachapi High School junior varsity football team shutout Stockdale in the last three quarters to defeat the Mustangs 20-7 Friday on Coy Burnett Field.

The victory improved the Braves’ record to 4-0 as they prepare to play Garces in Bakersfield this Friday in the final non-league game of the season.

In the game, the Braves were unable to move the ball on their first possession as Stockdale scored their only points of the night with a long sweep early in the first quarter.

The Braves got busy in the second quarter with a 67-yard, 12-play drive to score with just four seconds remaining in the half. Brad Taylor made the touchdown from the one. After the PAT failed the Braves had cut the Stockdale lead to 6-7. In the drive, Alek Taliulu accounted for three first-down conversions in the drive while rushing for 36 yards on six carries. After a 13-yard punt return, Gabe Bressler added a first down on a four-yard carry while Ronnie Overturf picked up 11 yards for a first down to put the Braves on the Mustangs 20-yard line. Bressler finished the game with 54 yards rushing. Overturf tallied 35 yards rushing in the game.

"I was real happy with the way our kids stepped up and the way they hit. They took their game to another level against a bigger school and stronger athletes," Braves’ head coach Ryan Grimes said.

Tehachapi added two touchdowns, one each in the third and fourth quarters, to take the lead and ice the victory.

In the third, Taliulu scored his first of two TD's in the game on an 11-yard run. He then ran in the PAT and on the ensuing kick off. Taliulu recovered a Mustang fumble at the 50. "He was our horse," Grimes said. “We had to ride him on offense and defense. We lost a couple of running backs early in the game. He had an excellent game for us."

In the fourth quarter, Taliulu added another six points to the THS scoreboard capping a 14-play drive with a 10-yard run. Taliulu finished the game leading the THS ball carries with 151 yards on 22 carries. 

The Braves rushed for 252 yards and held the Mustangs to just 61 yards on the ground. Stockdale completed two of seven passes for six yards. The Braves had no yards passing on two attempts.

The Braves are scheduled to travel to Bakersfield Friday to challenge the Garces Ramblers who defeated Shafter 32-12 Friday. "We are looking for a tough match up at their place," Grimes said. Kick off is at 5 p.m.