STOCKDALE SURGES IN SECOND HALF TO DEFEAT THE INDIANS, 20-12

The Tehachapi Indians had a 12-6 lead at halftime, but the Mustang Frosh regrouped in the second half, scoring twice to steal the win on the Mountain

The Tehachapi Frosh proved that it could hang with some of the Yosemite Division's elite teams last Thursday night, but a winning bid fell short after a strong second half surge propelled visiting Stockdale to a 20-12 win over the Indians (3-1).

Tehachapi started the game in great shape on defense, recovering a fumble at the Stockdale 30-yard line to open up their first offensive series of the game. The Indians then drove to the redzone with strong running from Joey Montez and Paul Castro, but the drive stalled after a holding penalty forced Tehachapi into a turnover on downs.

The offensive miscue would be rectified on Stockdale's next possession, when Gabe Naboa snatched up a Mustang fumble at the Stockdale 20 yard line and darted the distance for the early 6-0 lead with 2:42 left in the first quarter.

Tehachapi would add a second score and a 12-6 lead after an impressive 93-yard drive with less than two minutes remaining before halftime. The big play in the waning minutes of the second quarter came when Ehren Ochsenrider found Trevor Hayes deep in the secondary for a 60-yard connection, the longest pass completion of the season for the Indians.

With 0:25 left on the second-quarter game clock, Ochsenrider then connected with Corey Finley on a 10-yard touchdown strike, set up by a fake-reverse that had the Stockdale defense stacked on the outside corners, leaving the middle of the field wide open for the Finley the score.

Stockdale would go on to tie the game with a score and add the extra point for a 13-12 lead with 8:40 left in the fourth quarter, and then add an insurance touchdown with 2:14 left in the game with another extra point and a 20-12 lead.

Then Indians did threaten to potentially tie the game with less than two minutes remaining in the contest when Naboa took a Stockdale kickoff 49 yards to Mustang territory. Ochsenrider would then find Finley for another completion on a 15-yard pass play to the 10-yard line, but the Stockdale defense stiffened in the closing seconds to escape with the victory.

On defense, Byron Herman led all Indians with five tackles and two pressures, Joey Montez had four tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery, and Jake Taylor, Kelly Lorenz, Eric Jones, and Louie Olofson each had three tackles apiece.

On offense, Ochsenrider completed five passes for 93 yards and a score, Montez had 54 yards on eight carries, and Castro had 38 yards on eight carries including a 12-yard reception.

Then Indians are set to face off with the Garces Ramblers in Bakersfield this Thursday.