They were a team that was coming off a 6-5 season and recent success with five CIF Division XI titles from 1997-2001.  They were a team that had high hopes with the return of Jonathon Lewis at tailback and Cory James at quarterback.  They were a team that was as an Olympic League title holder and realistic optimism of repeating in 2004.

Unfortunately for the Spirits, they were also a team that had the resounding pleasure of meeting the Warriors on the mountain, who behind runningback Sean Finley, took care of the visiting Spirits with a season high 434 yards of total offense and a 41-21 win.

Sean Finley broke records last season against Paraclete, with a 268 yard, four touchdown rushing performance to put him fourth all-time for single game rushing yards in Warrior history behind Eric Young (291 yards against Mojave in 1989), Tanner Hutchinson (282 yards against Washington Union in 2003), and Young again (280 yards against Kern Valley in 1990).

It wasn't just Finley that was taking the Warrior Wing-T to the Spirits though, leaving cause for concern about the Spirits chances this season under second-year head coach Dan Lyon, a one-time assistant coach for Southern California prep-football power St. Bonaventure High School.

Overall, Paraclete will be very suspect this year on offense, with only one notable returning letterman returning in Garrett James (#10), who combined for 168 yards receiving and rushing last season and a receiving touchdown reception in a week three 35-28 win over Garces. 

Despite the fact that the Spirits look questionable on paper, most of their scrum-players were underclassmen.  Of all the teams that Tehachapi will face this pre-season, the Spirits present the most experience on the line-of-scrimmage, with starters Thomas Diprima (#55), Jacob Dean (#57), Cory Yriarate (#74) and Joe Sullivan (#86) returning, along with return specialist Jimmy Brousseau (#25), who is expected to take on a bigger role on offense this season.

The MASSter Blasters - Diprima (#55) and Yriarate (#74) will look to help the Spirits gain more ground on offense at Antelope Valley College this September against Tehachapi.

On defense, Paraclete should be more polished with returning players Mike Ament (#32), Richie Rought (#17), and Taylor Levine (#39) at defensive back.  The Spirits are also hopeful that the knowledge of the Wing-T will help Kirk Antosh (#64), Kolton Kallas (#58) Jacob Dean on the defensive line help keep Tehachapi more in-check from 2004.

Overall, Tehachapi may have the advantage on size, but never count out a Lyon-coached southern section team, especially one with a plenty of returning players returning from a 4-7 season that are on a mission of exoneration from the previous year.

Deep Returning Defense - Returning defensive back Taylor Levine (#39) will look to avenge the 2004 loss against Tehachapi last season.  Also shown is returning defensive back Richie Rought (#17)

This is the second year in a row that Tehachapi has played Paraclete.  For a brief history of each of the games that the Warriors and Spirits 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.