Weekly Warrior

CROSSING THE T's Mountain Football bounces back BIG with convincing 34-7 drubbing

DEFENSIVE DOMINATION - Tehachapi has had Wasco's number of late on defense, and it continued this season with a 34-0 shutout before the Warrior coaching staff called off the dogs midway through the 3rd Quarter.

Posted 10-15-05

If you had to pick the best quarter played so far on the year for the Tehachapi Warriors, chalk up the 1st against Wasco.

A very impressive display.

And mind you, it wasn't because Tehachapi went up on the scoreboard three times for the 21-0 lead (although it sure helped).

When really assessing the beginning period, it was total dominance by the Tehachapi defense and offense. The Warriors forced a turnover, and three-and-out, and ate away at the clock with three bruise-sustaining drives that capped a few fourth down conversions that subdued the confidence of the upstart Tigers.

It was risk taking, coupled with some solid play calling, and stellar execution by the Mountain Men.

For those that went to the game...THAT was Tehachapi football in the beginning minutes of the game.

You can even take away the final three quarters of play...because the way the Warriors started off the Wasco game, the bubble of confidence was all but burst on a Tiger team that was predicted to have a serious shot at the win for the first time in as many years against Tehachapi.

The old saying goes that time heals all wounds. In football, victory is a good elixir as well. The Warriors needed this one...bad. And with Taft coming up after a big win over Golden Valley, the SSL title...from Taft's standpoint, is going to be decided on the Mountain.

A victory for the Wildcats would all but assure a back-to-back with only Shafter, Wasco, and Arvin left on the schedule. For Tehachapi, some questions were answered against the Tigers, but a few more will still warrant responses against the Wildcats and the leading rusher in the state of California in Ben Estill, who already has 1,600+ yards through six games on the year.

Huge game this week. So much on the line.

With Wasco serving as the appetizer, the Warriors have proved that they can ' dot their I's '

With Tehachapi and Taft clashing paths this Friday...

They'll have a chance to see if they can ' cross the T's ' as well.

Hit and Fly Warriors!

MOUNTAIN FOOTBALL VIDEO
Game-By-Game Video Highlights

	First and foremost, a congratulations are in order to the Wasco Tigers...who for the first time in 14 quarters scored a touchdown against a Tehachapi defense. Granted, it was in garbage time in the fourth quarter with the tally 34-0, but it was good that Wasco connected with points on offense for the first time since Simon Lowen hit Marcus Ballard on a 71 yard TD reception in the second quarter of the 2002 game. Another congrats goes out to the Wasco announcer, who curiously was thrown out of the game on an innocent call mid-way through the fourth quarter. The ref's threw the yellow laundry against the announcer for saying "Tehachapi was off-sides again but the referee's didn't call it." Why a congrats to him? Well...he defied the zebras to celebrate Wasco's TD run on the mic....the ref's glaring at him between plays. It was after all, somewhat of a milestone of sorts, it deserved to be celebrated.
	Be sure to check out the Warriors stat sheet at the end of every weekend, which will have the latest and greatest on the defensive and offensive statistics for mountain football.
	THSWARRIORS.com PLAYERS OF THE WEEK This weeks recipients go out to a few new faces (somewhat) in the stat column. On defense, Alek Taliulu recorded eight tackles and an interception, and really stepped up at linebacker. It's very satisfying to know that Alek is only a sophomore, meaning more great seasons to come! The other nod's go to a couple of runners that had the best varsity stat output so far on the year, Brad Taylor and Louis James. Hard running guys, congrats! #10 Brad Taylor, #20 Louis James, #44 Alek Taliulu - PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
	SCOUTING REPORT: Taft Wildcats (3-3; 1-0 SSL) @ Tehachapi Warriors (3-3; 1-0 SSL) It has all come down to this. Tehachapi still may have a hurdle to overcome against Golden Valley in week 10...but pending that outcome this game could decide it. Tehachapi may deny it still wanting to hold true to the rivalry with Garces, but this match up between the Wildcats and the Warriors sure has the flavor for epic clashes year-after-year. The last two years, the losing team at halftime has come back to win. Time will only tell what is in store for the lucky fans that are able to punch their ticket at the gate at Coy Burnett Stadium this Friday night. For the Warriors, the target to stop is a very well known one...the leading rusher in all of California. with an astounding 1,655 yards through six games. I give you Ben Estill (#44). Let's say that again. 1,655 yards through SIX games. My word! And as Taft will tell you, "please...by all means stack that line. Cheat up linebackers." "As a double bonus...please hit big Ben up high. That just will add your number to the highlight reel of defenders he's dragged for big yardage." Looking at the way Estill runs, it's really hard to draw a comparison for avid Mountain Football watchers. The only way I can really describe him is...think Kurt Liebengood's powerful torso...wrapped up into a Dustin McBride type running style, punching through all in his path. Leave no doubt in your mind Warrior fans, this kid is special. And you will see first hand this Friday night. You would think that after a few stops in the first half, you have him contained. But in truth, you don't. His stamina is MUCH better than yours. He just wears you down....down....down. Then, boom. 70 yard run in the fourth quarter. Taft Head Coach Steve Sprague must feel like a kid in a candy store. He has the most prolific runner in the valley (and possibly the state), who he can give the ball 35+ times a game without having to fret over his endurance. And even better...since your defense is watching what he does every play, he can feed you a couple of mis-direction runs to Andrew Miller (#22), Nick Ortlieb (#21), or Fernando Romo (#33). The three runners have combined for 632 yards and five TD's on the year. Not that Sprague HAS to give the ball to these other guys...but no question, when you least expect it, he'll burn you with them. Especially with Ortlieb or Miller on a toss-sweep. Taft could have easily folded up like a cheap tent after that ugly loss to Morro Bay. But they didn't....and here we are. The SSL title is on the line this Friday folks, time to fly Warriors! Tehachapi owns an overall 12-11-1 record over Taft. For a brief history of each of the games that the Warriors and Wildcats have played each other, click here. You can also view 2004 Weekly Warrior analysis and 2004 game stats of the last meeting between these two teams.
	Be sure to tune in each week to get the latest new, highlights, and commentary! Thanks to all of you for logging in and supporting Tehachapi High School Warrior athletics!

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