INDIANS TAKE 35-0 1st QUARTER LEAD, DEFEAT TAFT 41-6

TEHACHAPI NEWS - Right from the opening kickoff, the Tehachapi Indians 4-3 (1-1 SSL) wanted to show the Taft Kittens that they wanted to orchestrate a complete game in all facets of play.  After a Joey Montez bone-jarring hit on the opening kickoff that forced a Taft fumble and Tehachapi recovery, it was the beginning of the end for the Kittens, with Tehachapi scoring 35 points in the first quarter to roll to a 41-6 win on the road. 

The Indians started their first drive of the afternoon at the Taft 26-yard line after the opening kickoff turnover. On the Indians’ second play from scrimmage, Byron Hermon took a handoff 30-yards for Tehachapi’s first touchdown of the game. Louie Olofson then tacked on the two-point conversion to make the score 8-0 with 9:13 left in the first. The second score came on a six-play drive that started at the Tehachapi 35-yard line, where Joey Montez capped the effort with a 1-yard run at the 5:02 mark. Paul Castro took the handoff on the two-point conversion off a sweep to make it 16-0 in favor of the Indians.

After a three-and-out on Taft’s next possession, the Kittens punted to the Indians, giving Tehachapi their worst field position of the afternoon at their own 15-yard line. The surmountable distance did not seem to faze Tehachapi however, with Castro taking an Ehren Ochsenrider handoff up the middle for an 85-yard score on the first play.  After a Greg Bloom extra point, it was 23-0 Tehachapi.

Taft attempted to answer Tehachapi’s third TD on their next possession, but an over-the-shoulder interception by Anthony Calvillo was taken at the Indian 40-yard line, with Calvillo darting all the way to the endzone for a 29-0 lead with 2:50 remaining in the opening quarter. Hermon would add Tehachapi’s final touchdown of the first with 0:59 seconds left, scoring from four yards out after Tehachapi opened possession at the Taft 33-yard line. The extra point was blocked, but Tehachapi had the game all-but wrapped up with a 35-0 lead, and 213 total yards already accumulated to Taft’s 13 total yards on four possessions.

Tehachapi utilized most of their personnel for the rest of the contest, with Steven Miller taking a majority of the snaps for the Indians. Tehachapi’s starting unit did come back for action in the opening possession of the third quarter, with Castro completing a drive with a 36-yard run off a double-reverse to account for the Indian’s final score of the day. Castro finished the game with 158 yards on seven carries and two scores, while Byron Hermon had two touchdowns and 62 yards on seven carries. Corey Finley led the Indians in the receiving column, catching two passes for 58 yards. Montez had 59 yards on nine carries, while Kelly Lorenz saw most of the action in the game with 11 carries for 31 total yards.

On defense, Montez led the team with eight tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. Ben Sheahan had three tackles, Louie Olofson had four tackles, including three for losses, while Hermon Ben Sheahan, and Trevor Hayes each had three tackles. Josh Schulgen, Matt Roussel, and Jacob Booth recovered fumbles, while Schulgen and Calvillo each had interceptions.

Tehachapi will play host to the Arvin Cubs this week on the Mountain. The Cubs come into their match-up against Tehachapi with a 4-2 (1-0 SSL) record. Arvin played Wasco last Saturday but the score was not available at press time. Kickoff will be this Thursday at 5pm at Coy Burnett Field.

The Indians' Paul Castro scored twice and collected 158 yards on the ground.  In the second picture, Castro ran the run 85 yards for a score, his longest run from scrimmage so far on the year.