The Warriors hope to contend for a Southeast Yosemite League championship in 2013. All eyes are on a key matchup on November 8
in Bakersfield against the Garces Rams. Photo by Henry Barrios, The Bakersfield Californian.
Second of a two part series originally posted August 21, 2013 and reposted October 6, by Tom Shea, The Tehachapi News 2013 Preview Of
Southeast Yosemite League Opponents
Below is a breakdown of opponents in the Southeast Yosemite League scheduled for Tehachapi this season:
Oct. 12 – Tehachapi at East
The SEYL opener for both teams brings a schedule oddity of sorts for the Warriors. Football fans may recall last year’s East-Foothill football game that was played on a Saturday, where the Trojans honored legendary coach Ned Permenter by holding a commemorative homecoming and naming the FHS football field in his honor. Not to be outdone, East wanted to “keep up with the Joneses” so to speak, deciding to hold their own Saturday football extravaganza this year to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the school. Only one problem with the scheduling. The festivities were slated by EBHS administration for Oct.12, an away game for East at Tehachapi. Oops. But after a phone call from East AD Rick VanHorne to THS AD Patrick Snyder, an agreement was made for Tehachapi to go to East and accommodate the big event. East will pay off their debt by agreeing to play THS in a pair of home games in 2014 and 2015. As far as the game itself, it will be an early afternoon 3 p.m. start time for the varsity on Saturday. There will be plenty of activity for fans if they want to arrive early. East plans on rolling out the red carpet with music, tours, decade booths, guest speakers and a vintage car show. Should be fun.
Opponent’s 2012 Record: 2-8 (2-3 SEYL)
Opponent’s Top Player Returning: #9 Blake Sherman- Senior (646 yards passing, 4 TDs)
Game Times: Varsity (3 p.m. - Saturday), Junior Varsity (7:30 p.m. - Thursday), Freshmen (5 p.m. – Thursday)
Last Season: Tehachapi won 42-0
All-Time Series Record: Tehachapi leads 10-3
Oct.18 – Highland at Tehachapi
Highland will benefit from the return of their quarterback, Breaker Brannan, and one of their top backfield threats from 2012 in Brian Garcia, who had one of the Scots’ two touchdowns against the Warriors last season. The Scots were also one of the local teams last season (along with West) to join the Wing-T offense fraternity. A second year with the offense should give HHS more familiarity and comfort with the system. Highland also was competitive against the THS jayvee last season, losing in a 34-21 shootout, and defeated the Indians 40-20. More than likely, Highland will solicit the services of those underclassmen to fill in the holes of departing seniors. The contest will mark Mountain Football’s league home opener, so there should be a lot of excitement surrounding the game on a fall Tehachapi evening.
Opponent’s 2012 Record: 4-6 (2-3 SEYL)
Opponent’s Top Player Returning: #11 Breaker Brannan- Junior (26 yards passing against THS last year)
Game Times: Varsity (7:30 p.m.), Junior Varsity (5 p.m.), Freshmen (5 p.m. – Thursday)
Last Season: Tehachapi won 35-14
All-Time Series Record: Tehachapi leads 5-2-1
Oct.25 – Tehachapi at North
Last year’s homecoming game against the Stars ended almost as quickly as it started, with the Warriors reeling off 28 unanswered points in the first quarter and a 41-6 halftime lead. This year’s Stars feature one of the best offensive lineman in the valley in 6-7, 295 pound senior Jared Dorton. The Stars also return senior running back David Reyes, who had a good game against Tehachapi last year with 116 yards on the ground and a fourth quarter TD. Junior Steven Twiss also returns to the Stars at quarterback to lead first year head coach Chad Brown’s offense. Similar mindset coming into this game as the Highland contest. A lot of currently unknown underclassmen talent should emerge as game changers, particularly with a North frosh-soph team that was able to defeat the Indians last year, 26-21.
Opponent’s 2012 Record: 0-10 (0-5 SEYL)
Opponent’s Top Player Returning: #76 Jared Dorton - Senior (Offensive Line / Defensive Line)
Game Times: Varsity (7:30 p.m.), Junior Varsity (5 p.m.), Freshmen (5 p.m. – Thursday)
Last Season: Tehachapi won 41-13
All-Time Series Record: Tehachapi leads 4-1
Nov.1 – Foothill at Tehachapi
The Trojans had one of the most talented players in the league at their disposal last year in utility back Brandon Fanning (1,695 yards rushing), but unfortunately, Fanning and a few other speedy talents (Brandon Palafox, Destin Penn, Montel Littles) have been lost to graduation. Foothill also will have a new head coach at the helm in Jason Oliver, who guided the BHS Drillers to a CIF championship as an offensive coordinator in 2001 (Tehachapi lost to no.5 state ranked BHS that year, 14-6). Foothill does bring back their leading tackler from last season in Demetrius Alexander, who will more than likely assume more duties on offense this year at running back. The Trojans also bring back three starters on their offensive line to help protect Randy Rodriguez, who was the quarterback for the frosh-soph team last year.
Opponent’s 2012 Record: 3-7 (2-3 SEYL)
Opponent’s Top Player Returning: #43 Demetrius Alexander - Senior (52 tackles)
Game Times: Varsity (7:30 p.m.), Junior Varsity (5 p.m.), Freshmen (5 p.m. – Thursday)
Last Season: Tehachapi won 49-14
All-Time Series Record: Tehachapi leads 8-1
Nov.8 – Tehachapi at Garces
The big one, however it is premature at this point to say that this will be the game that determines the SEYL champion in 2013. But if history has any say, the game between the Warriors and the Rams has been a two horse race for league supremacy in the South Sequoia League (1992 to 2003) and more recently, last season. This game will have an extra flair compared to most, due to the fact that it will mark the end of a league rival era … again. Both Tehachapi and Garces will jettison out of the league starting next fall, with the Rams moving to the Southwest Yosemite League and the Warriors to the South Yosemite League. So, it is only fitting that the league championship, and the Ogilvie Bowl Trophy, signal the end of the regular season for these two very proud and storied programs. If that alone is not enough to wet your appetite, it should be a whale of a game on the field as well. Garces enters the season this year ranked #93 in the state overall, spearheaded by their dynamite junior running back Sheldon Croney, who is the nephew of super bowl champion linebacker Joey Porter. The defending CIF Division II champions also return speedy wingback Dominic Frasch (455 yards rushing).
Opponent’s 2012 Record: 13-1 (5-0 SEYL)
Opponent’s Top Player Returning: #4 Sheldon Croney - Junior (1,433 yards rushing, 287 yards receiving, 26 TD)
Game Times: Varsity (7:30 p.m.), Junior Varsity (5 p.m.), Freshmen (5 p.m. – Thursday)
Last Season: Garces won 21-7
All-Time Series Record: Garces leads 21-19-2
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