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T-TOWN BREAKDOWN THE 2005 TEHACHAPI WARRIORS
Posted 08-29-05 When going player by player and position by position, no team in the SSL will enjoy more returning depth than Tehachapi. While you can make that claim virtually every year based on Tehachapi’s school size (the second largest in the league), the alarming fact still remains that there are many key players returning to a team that enjoyed a solid season with a CIF quarterfinal playoff appearance and a 4-1 SSL record. Should make for exciting optimism heading into the season! Here’s a corps breakdown by unit and position: DEFENSE We have come to find out over the years that the eventual league and section champion is the squad that boasts the best defense, and Tehachapi should be able to answer the call when the fall season comes around. Defensive Line On the defensive line, #4 Matt Deger (senior), #52 Chad Johnson (senior), and #81 Jake Smith (senior) are expected to return on the ends, while #75 Levi Kerstiens (senior) will once again take his position in the middle of the scrum.
BACK-4-MORE: Led by returning down-lineman Levi Kerstiens (#75), the Warriors are hopeful that penetration can be reached on the line of scrimmage this upcoming fall. The Warriors will suffer somewhat from the play and leadership of graduating Bakersfield College bound Trenton Pera, but should find solid replacements in upcoming juniors #72 Greg Embry, #74 Nick Engraf, and #67 Evan McBride. #85 Mike Papac is also expected to get a lot more action on defense this year. Secondary In the defensive backfield, Tehachapi is suffering their worst loss of starters of any position with David Gonzales, Jameson Freymond, Maurice Sales, and Fernando Gracian all lost to graduation. But not to worry, deep talent looms on the horizon with returning starter #1 EJ Muro (senior), and a host of juniors led by #9 Geo Lopez, #30 Stefan Bekker, #14 Levi Lantz, #41 Adam Greenwood, and #10 Brad Taylor. #36 Aaron Boileau and #3 Mason McLauglin could also provide immediate depth to the secondary along with #15 AJ Dessenberger and #28 Jeremy Waldram. Linebackers Everybody’s back this year, Warrior fans. Seniors #2 Paul Abarquez, #5 Zac Schlais, #45 Mike Barboa, and #6 Lance Lange shouldn’t miss a beat from their junior campaigns, and will benefit from #7 Eric Tercy and upcoming junior #10 Brad Taylor spelling them after receiving much valued playoff experience last season against Roosevelt and Delano. Tehachapi will miss one of the best LB’s to ever suit up in a Warrior uniform in Mike Faulkner and hybrid soccer star/hard hitter Nelson Godschalk…but overall Tehachapi is looking very solid with plenty of experience coming back. OFFENSE Offensive Line When it rains, it pours. Big schools usually don’t have much problem filling voids in this position, and in 2005 Tehachapi will be no exception. Back for Tehachapi are three starting rock-movers in highly-touted seniors #71 Chris Dockery, #54 Tommy O’Brien, and #64 Ralph Curiel. While Trenton Pera and Jose Pulido will be missed on the line, look for seniors #50 Evan Bullard, #53 Matt Fort, #52 Chad Johnson to fill the void along with juniors #72 Greg Embry and #67 Evan McBride, getting some time in as well. The wing-t attack should be running on all cylinders with these talented lineman along with a host of other players on the depth chart set to return. Tight Ends/Wide Receivers Wideouts are not exactly the most celebrated position in Tehachapi’s offense, but the Warriors should have some talent to work with if the defense gives them some open lanes in the secondary. Back for Tehachapi will be seniors #1 EJ Muro and #3 Mason McLaughlin, but not suiting up for varsity this year is junior Vincent Saavedra, who had 268 yards and six touchdowns receiving two years ago on the freshman Indians and a solid compliment to the Brave’s strong running attack in last year’s undefeated 10-0 JV team. Saavedra's absence is unfortunate, but Tehachapi should still be fine with the corps of players they have. At tight end, look for Tehachapi to use the hands of their two stars early and often, with three-year Warrior #85 Mike Papac back for action and senior #45 Mike Barboa, who in the clutch arguably has the best hands on the team. Quarterbacks Returning Senior #8 Tyler Hansen should assume the roles under center when the season starts, providing Tehachapi a quarterback with starting experience coming into a season for the first time since Jerad Romo in the 1999 and 2000 campaigns.
PIGSKIN TOSS: Tyler Hansen (#8) had some nice throws against Delano, with the junior connecting for 125 yards passing on the night, his best output on the season. Early on, #2 Paul Abarquez has taken on backup duties for Tehachapi, but also look for junior gunslinger #14 Levi Lantz to get a few looks as the season wears on. Runningbacks You can’t have a Tehachapi team without a strong backfield…and this season is no exception. Lost to graduation is virtually all of the offensive yardage from 2004 in Sean Finley, Dan Haycock, and Fernando Gracian, but Tehachapi should reload at wingback and fullback to provide a solid punch for this upcoming season. Returning for the Warriors is senior #21 Robert Wright, who scored three times and rushed for 290 yards last season for Tehachapi. #5 Zack Schlais and #2 Paul Abarquez are also back for Tehachapi after solid pounding duties in the middle last year for a combined 354 yards. In addition to these returnees, Junior #34 Gabe Bressler should also provide a solid spark for the Warriors this season after taking his first-ever carry as a Warrior last year for a touchdown in the playoffs against Roosevelt. Junior #30 Steffan Bekker, #7 Eric Tercy, and #9 Geo Lopez could make some noise as well. A newcomer to the Warrior backfield that might get some looks is #20 Louis James.
THE NEXT RUNNIN' WARRIOR: Gabe Bressler (#34) helped carry the JV Braves to two consecutive SSL Championships in 2003 and 2004. In a Tehachapi football uniform, Bressler has helped his team's to a combined 20-2 (10-0 SSL) record including last year's playoffs. Sophomores #44 Alek Taliulu and #26 Paul Castro also enjoyed some very fruitful performances in last year’s underclassmen games, providing a formidable force to reckon with week-to-week. The talent with these two players is not without dilemma, however….with these two sophomores coming up to the varsity ranks that leaves some pretty big shoes to fill on the JV level. The 10th grade SSL title could be up for grabs without Taliulu and Castro running the show. As history would show for Tehachapi…in getting the invite, Tanner Hutchinson elected to stay on the JV team when he was a 10th grader in 2001. The move turned out to be a good one for Hutchinson, getting a full year of work and confidence before a brilliant two year stint on Varsity in ’02 and ’03. Just having to balance Wright, Schlais, Abarquez, Lopez, Bressler, James, and Bekker might be a challenging undertaking for Denman and his staff, but hopefully it will all work out. It sure is nice to have a saturated backfield though, isn’t it? ------- So there you have it Warrior fans…an early look at your team heading in to 2005. As with any year, incoming transfers and mentioned players electing not to play football could play a part in the accuracy of the analysis (also with names accidentally left off). But overall, it should be another exciting year of Mountain Football! DISCLAIMER: This analysis is solely the opinion and commentary of thswarriors.com, and does not reflect the opinion or “depth chart” of the THS coaching staff. Please do not contact the coaches on this analysis…if you have any inquires or comments please direct them specifically to the weekly warrior.
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