INDIANS MOUNT COMEBACK BUT FALL SHORT AGAINST STOCKDALE

TEHACHAPI NEWS - When the Indians spotted the Stockdale freshmen three touchdowns on their first three drives to succumb to a 19-0 deficit, they could have easily packed it in. But Tehachapi wasn’t about to give up that easily against the Mustangs.

After relinquishing interceptions on their first two drives, the Indians reached the scoreboard for the first time in the second quarter when Justin Hansen found a wide-open Adam Mullen for a six yard catch. Staring at an open field in front of him, Mullen darted past the Stockdale secondary for the rest of the yardage to record a 41-yard touchdown with 4:31 left in the second quarter. On the two point conversion try, Vincent Ortiz scored off-tackle to cut the Stockdale lead to 19-8.

Despite the Tehachapi touchdown, the Mustangs seemingly had the game in hand heading into the locker room up by two scores.  When Stockdale let down their guard to open up the second half, the Indians responded.

Tehachapi took complete control of the beginning of the third quarter starting with the opening kickoff, with Josh Strauss taking the kickoff 54 yards to Stockdale territory to give the Indians possession at the 41-yard line. The Indians needed only two plays, a 21-yard run by Ortiz and a 19-yard scoring run by Mullen to log in their second touchdown of the afternoon. Ortiz would tack on the two-point conversion with a bulldozing run up the middle for the 19-16 Stockdale lead at the 9:18 mark of the third quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Mullen orchestrated one of the most amazing plays by either team on the night with an onside kick up the middle, and leaping five yards to land on the ball at the Stockdale 46-yard line. Feeding off the momentum, Josh Strauss carried Tehachapi’s first offensive play from scrimmage for a 45-yard touchdown run with 8:23 left in the third to shatter the Stockdale lead. Ortiz would pile on his third two-point conversion on the night with another run for the 24-19 Indian advantage.

Tehachapi would try another onside kick after the third touchdown, but the ball was recovered by Stockdale at midfield. The Mustangs would go on to record two touchdowns in the second half for the eventual 34-24 win.

Mullen led all Tehachapi rushers with 82 yards on 12 carries and 41 yards receiving, including two scores. Ortiz logged in 46 yards on 5 carries, while Strauss had 46 yards on two carries.

In the passing game, Kurtis Knudson had three completions for 63 yards and a touchdown, while Justin Hansen had 50 yards passing on the night. Garrett Coontz had 50 yards receiving on two completions.

On defense, Ortiz led all tacklers with 11 tackles, followed by Jason Hail with nine tackles, Coontz with eight tackles, and Mullen, Strauss, Jacob Harrington, and Chris Fimbres with five apiece. Franky Rodriguez, Jimmy Lopez, and Dominic Chaveria each had three tackles in the contest.

The Indians next game will be this Thursday against Garces at Coy Burnett Stadium. Kickoff is at 5pm.