Albeit it does conjure a good mix of sequoia caliber schools...the potential to have a pretty solid record heading into the league season is definitely present for second-year head coach Pete Mitchell.  Coalinga will probably give the Tigers their toughest test, but it's a far cry away from Yosemite-caliber schools that Tehachapi will have just finished whittling at in their schedule.

Most of Wasco's skilled-position players from 2004 have been lost to graduation, including QB Daniel Hinojosa and RB Nick Tijerina.  On defense, gone is a formidable linebacking corps that included Trevon Coleman and Alex House, while Eduardo Ramirez, Jacob Wallace (All-Area Honorable Mention), and Calvan Dugan will be missed in the secondary.

Back for the Tigers are SSL notables Franke Andrade (#55), Benjamin Pallares (#75), Pedro Prieto (#70), and Baudelio Munoz (#10) on the line of scrimmage, and Humberto Lopez (#9) and Stephen Bert (#40) at linebacker.

Also expect Leo Rios (#32) to get a bulk of the carries this year at runningback.

FUTURE TIGER STARS - Tehachapi may have had their way with the Wasco JV and Varsity teams last year, but watch out for the Wasco Freshmen.  Last season, in one of worst losses ever for a Tehachapi team on the Mountain, the Tiger ninth-graders handed the Indians a 51-20 loss.  Wasco went on to post a 8-0-1 (4-0-1 SSL) season.

Probably the biggest concern for Tehachapi will not be this year, but the following couple of years, with Wasco turning in an impressive freshman squad this past season en route to an SSL championship, including a 51-20 thrashing over the Indians.  We could see some of those Tiger freshmen (now sophomores) come up to Varsity, which might give the Warriors some reprieve this season but give those young players much-needed experience for the years to follow.

Bottom line for this season...Wasco shouldn't present a huge problem for Tehachapi...but be mindful of the players clashing at 5pm - 6:30pm...on game night.

Wasco's sophomore class could show indication of a future varsity SSL titles to come.

COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE - Robert Wright (#21) carried this Wasco defender on his way to a TD last season against the Tigers on homecoming night.  Tehachapi won the contest, 19-7.

Tehachapi owns an overall 19-10 record over Wasco.  For a brief history of each of the games that the Warriors and Tigers 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.