INDIANS SERVE SHUTOUT TO SPIRITS

TEHACHAPI NEWS - The Tehachapi freshmen may have strength in numbers this season, but their greatest asset may be balance, providing big plays and a solid overall game on offense, defense, and special teams, en route to a 36-0 shutout over the Paraclete frosh team.

The Indians put themselves in great position for an early score at the opening kickoff when Gabe Noboa took the kick from the Tehachapi 16-yard line and followed blockers to the Paraclete 40-yard line. It took less than two-minutes for Tehachapi to capitalize with a score when Louie Olofson took a bucksweep off the right hash for a 31-yard touchdown.  Joey Montez would add the ensuing two-point attempt to help Tehachapi take an early 8-0 lead with 8:28 left in the first quarter.

Forcing a three-and-out on Paraclete's second possession, the Spirits punted late in the first quarter to Paul Castro, who took the return 87 yards for the second Indian touchdown of the game with 3:04 left in the first quarter. Gabe Noboa tacked on the Indians’ second two point conversion of the afternoon with a catch from Ehren Ochsenrider to make it 16-0.

"The special teams play helped get us going early, I think it definitely helped us establish our momentum," said Indian Head Coach Chris Olofson. "There are some growing pains that teams have to go through, particularly at the freshman level, so for us to take advantage of our strengths against Paraclete was a positive thing."

The Indians scored their final touchdown of the half with a 29-yard catch by Corey Finley from Ochsenrider with 2:44 left in the second quarter. Castro added the extra point attempt for a 23-0 lead heading into the locker room.

At the start of the third quarter, Tehachapi wasted no time in putting the game away for good, needing only five plays from the Spirits 48-yard line to set up a commanding 30-0 lead with a Byron Herman 2-yard score and a Castro extra point conversion. Jeff Walram set up the final touchdown of the evening with two runs of 24 and 27 yards, capping it with a 1-yard run TD with 0:26 left in the third for the final 36-0 score.

"Admittedly we expected more out of Paraclete heading into this game," added Olofson. "We played well and spread it around on offense, but I have no doubt that we will have some much bigger tests heading into our next games."

On defense, the Indians dominated most of the contest, actually holding the Spirits to negative seven yards in the first half and not relinquishing a first down to the Paraclete offense until four minutes left in the third quarter. For the second straight week, Joey Montez led all tacklers with nine, while Bryon Herman added six take downs, Jake Taylor had three tackles and three sacks, Gabe Noboa had three sacks, Dakota Weeks had three tackles and a sack, Corey Finley had three tackles and four pressures, Jevon Stubbs had two tackles and three pass deflections, Jacob Booth had two tackles and a pass deflection, and Josh Schulgen had two tackles.

On offense, Jeff Waldram led all runners with three carries for 52 yards and a TD, Ochsenrider completed four passes for 88 yards and TD, Byron Herman had four carries for 25 yards and a TD, Kellly Lorenz had four carries for 21 yards, Gabe Noboa had two carries for 18 yards, a catch for 27 yards, and a two point pass completion, Greg Bloom had a catch for 11 yards, and Paul Castro accounted for over 100 yards of total yards on special teams and offense, including a 21-yard catch.

The Indians will have their first road game and biggest test so far on the young year this Thursday against Foothill in Bakersfield. Foothill comes into the contest 2-0, with victories over North-Bakersfield 33-27 and West-Bakersfield 34-20. The game is set to start at 5pm.

(Editors Note:  If you have any pictures from the game that you would like to add to this page please contact Tom Shea)