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FORTUNES
REVERSED
Tehachapi
has 12-0 lead at halftime, but inspired Wildcat group go on to score 20
unanswered points in the high intensity SSL match-up
Posted 10-23-04
CAT NIPPED:
(left picture) Warriors Chris Dockery (71) chases
down a Taft ball carrier in second quarter action, while (right picture)
Mike Faulkner (44), Lance Lange (6), Matt Deger (4), and Fernando
Gracian (20) celebrate a botched punt take-down deep in Wildcat
territory.
Well...the Warriors lost.
Much in the same way that victory came a season
ago...Taft had an 18-0 lead going into the locker room on the mountain,
then Tehachapi came out of the gate inspired in the third quarter to
score three unanswered touchdowns to take the 'improbable' victory.
This season, it was Daniel Kerr and co.'s turn.
Sorry folks, I guess that's just football for ya. Someone upstairs
probably figured that Taft just wanted it too bad.
Looking past this game, it is far from over for
Tehachapi. The Warriors may be sitting at 3-4, but both Taft and
Tehachapi have the daunting task of facing arguably the best SSL team
this year in Arvin.
Remember folks, three-way ties are still possible.
And Tehachapi better gear up to that mindset
rather quickly, considering that the Bears will be knocking on their
doorstep here in a couple of days on the mountain.
Taft may be flying high with their 20-12 win over
the mountain men, but they still have a journey ahead of them too.
Arvin presents problems to both the Wildcats and the Warriors, and both
teams will need to be ready to face the high-octane attack that the
Bears present.
The rest of this season, all the Warriors need to
do is take each game one half at a time, one quarter at a time, one play
at a time. With Arvin, there can be no mistakes.
With a strong performance this week, and a little
help from Arvin towards the end of the season, things can still work out
in the way that the Warriors want them to.
And even if they don't, there's the pride of a
program that will still endure throughout any adversity that comes its
way.
Hit and fly, finish strong Warriors! 
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Player of the week honors for
the Taft game go to Mike Faulkner.
Mike played inspired football this Friday night, and was the difference
maker for most of the game on defense in registering 12 tackles.
There were many plays that Daniel Kerr or Tyler Beath would have sprung
for huge yardage had Faulkner not been there to neutralize the play at the
line of scrimmage. Great job last week Mike, you definitely have
made a strong case as the best linebacker in the SSL this year. |
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SCOUTING REPORT: Arvin Bears (6-1) @
Tehachapi Warriors (3-4)
The SSL season may be a
difficult stretch for the Warriors this year from top to bottom, and
arguably two of Tehachapi’s toughest opponents are back-to-back, with
Taft last week on the road and Arvin this Friday night at Coy Burnett
Stadium.
The Bears have put up very
solid numbers through six games this year, enjoying one of their best
seasons in team history with a 5-1 (1-0 SSL) record prior to their week
7 matchup with Wasco.
Back for Arvin are two of the
best players from the 2003 SSL season in All-SSL selections Jose
Tamayo (#5) at quarterback and Hector
Velasquez (#2) at runningback. The two
specialty players have not disappointed this year, with Velasquez
carrying 111 times for 735 yards and nine scores, while
Tamayo is third on the team in running with
249 yards on the ground and 529 yards passing with six total touchdowns.
Last season, Tamayo finishing the year with
1,248 yards passing on 72 completions, while Velasquez led the ground
attack with 945 yards and a team leading 15 touchdowns.
Much like last year,
Tamayo and Velasquez are not alone in the
talent category, taking advantage of a stingy defense led by a very
solid linebacking corps that returns Sam
Montero (#24) and Sergio Rodriguez (#34), who are leading the team in
tackles, along with Saul Moreno (#31), Jose Flores (#44), and Sam
Aguilar (#25), who have been heavily involved on the front line for
Arvin. The Bears are also very strong on the offensive line, with
Alphonso Valencia (#55) opening up gaping
holes at his tackle position and seniors Martin Aguilar (#75) and Saul
Perez (#66) manning the middle of the line of scrimmage.
In the receiving game, Arvin
is led by returning starter Frankie Garza (#3), who so far on the year
has caught four touchdown passes and 179 total yards receiving. Also
look for runningback Angel Pineda (#20) to
get involved in the receiving game and the running attack this Friday
night, with 138 yards receiving and 355 yards on the ground in
spell-duty to Velasquez.
ANOTHER TOUGH ONE AHEAD -
Sean Finley (#32) and Warrior Alum Jeremy Clark (#41) closes in on the
line of scrimmage against Arvin's Hector Valasquez (#2) from a Jose
Tamayo (#5) handoff. The Warriors will have to neutralize
Valasquez in 2004 if they want to come away with a win.
Arvin is considered to have
one of the most potent offenses in the sequoia division, and the credit
is well received, with over 2,000 yards accumulated so far on the season
in total offense and a noteworthy 6.5 yards per carry and 20.6 yards per
catch average.
The Warriors are potentially
facing the most complete team from the SSL this week, which should be a
good test for the preparation of the remaining league schedule and a
potential playoff berth, should it come to fruition for Tehachapi after
the regular season concludes. |
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A big congratulations goes out to the
freshman and
junior varsity programs, who demolished Taft by a combined score of
83-12. The Indians had a huge 35-0 first quarter lead and called
off the dogs the rest of the way in a 41-6 win, and the Braves just
played an all-around consistant game, with Stefan Bekker scoring twice
and Gabe Bressler scoring three times in the 42-6 romp over the Bobcats.
Good job both programs on the win!
BRAVE ROMP-
Gabe Bressler (34) dives for yardage in the Braves 42-6 thrashing over
the Bobcats |
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Warrior Alum's
Chris Denman and
Jerad Romo are
set to face off this week in Division 1A football action. Jerad's
SMU Mustangs are coming to Frenso to take on Chris Denman's Fresno State
Bulldogs.
If you don't have any immediate plans for
Saturday the 30th, come on down to check out two of Tehachapi's own at
Bulldog Stadium! Kickoff for the game is set for 7pm. |
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Stay tuned next week for analysis of the Arvin
game and a preview of the Shafter matchup.
GO
WARRIORS
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Questions? Concerns?
Corrections? Praises? Send Tom Shea an email,
he'd like to hear from you.
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