BRAVES SCORE 41 POINTS IN FIRST HALF, COAST TO 41-19 WIN OVER WASCO

TEHACHAPI NEWS - The Tehachapi High School junior varsity football team scored six times in the first half to defeat Wasco 41-19 Friday on Coy Burnett Field.

The Braves’ four offensive TD's and a pair of defensive scores to put the game out of reach for the Tigers despite a 19-point effort in the second half by Wasco.

The first touchdown of the game came in the Braves’ second drive when Gabe Bressler scored from the 30-yard line on a third and six. Quarterback Levi Lantz set up the play with the handoff to Bressler and Vincent Saavedra kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead. Bressler finished the game with 43 yards rushing.

The Braves’ defense added another six points to the THS scoreboard on Wasco's next drive when Bressler recovered a Tiger fumble and ran the ball in from the 25.

Josh Mendez was next to score for the Braves on a 13-yard run putting the Braves up 20-0 with 3:05 remaining in the first quarter. Mendez was the leading rusher for the Braves. He finished the game with 67 yards on 11 carries.

In the second quarter, Jake Harris leaped on a Wasco fumble in the Tigers’ endzone for a TD followed by Ronnie Overturf's four-yard TD. Saavedra's kick made the score 24-0. The Braves added one more TD in the first half when Mendez scored from the five and Saavedra hit the PAT. Overturf rushed for 23 yards and caught a pass form Lantz for 16 yards to set up Mendez' second TD of the game.

The Braves rushed for 135 of their game total 158 yards in the first half. Wasco was held to just eight yards rushing in the half.

The Tigers scored three times in the fourth quarter on passes of 12 and 28 yards and one recovered fumble to score 19 unanswered points.

The Braves will open for the Warriors in Taft this Friday. Kick off is set for 5 p.m.