The Tehachapi High School varsity football team held an inter-squad scrimmage Saturday morning, August 11, on Coy Burnett Field. Pictured above, tailback Josh Strauss, #25, runs the ball through the middle as offensive lineman Kevin Ruiz #58 leads the way with a block. The Warriors will travel to Foothill this Friday, August 17 for a scrimmage. Photo by the Tehachapi News.
WARRIORS TO RELY
ON TALENTED BACKFIELDPosted July 31, 2007, by Brad Riddell, The Bakersfield Californian
When Tehachapi plowed through SSL rival Shafter 75-42 last October, it was behind a monstrous offensive line and a talented stable of running backs that the Warriors racked up 508 rushing yards. Some of those backs have returned, some haven't, but expect to see Tehachapi rolling on the ground again in 2007.
Coach Steve Denman said returner Josh Strauss, who was elevated to varsity last season as a sophomore, will get plenty of carries. Adam Mullen, who started on the junior varsity last season, is another who may surprise.
Young players like Mullen and Strauss, along with a talented senior group, have Tehachapi looking forward to this season after last year's 6-5 record.
"We have some good leadership this season," Denman said. "The seniors have really stepped up. We've had some good workouts all summer long."
The Warriors will rely heavily on two of those seniors to anchor each side of the ball. Starting quarterback Ehren Ochsenrider will lead the offense, while senior linebacker Alek Taliulu should be one of the best defenders in Kern County.
This group of seniors will get one last shot at Garces Aug. 24 when the Warriors come to Bakersfield to play at Sam Tobias Field. Garces has defeated Tehachapi twice in the last two seasons, both times in Tehachapi.
"It's always good to play those guys," Denman said. "We always get up for them. It's a good rivalry for both our communities."
