Tehachapi at North Bakersfield
October 2, 2015
Warrior lineman Gabe Dodge #56 blocks for Warrior running back Keyron Scott #21 enroute to a Tehachapi victory over North High, 34-12,
Friday night in Bakersfield. The Warriors will travel to Independence this Friday in the league opener. Varsity game time is 7:00 pm,
JV's start at 4:30 pm, due to Independence homecoming activities. Photo by TBC Media Group.
Posted on October 4, 2015 by John Nelson, The Tehachapi News Warriors Prepare For League Opener Against Independence
Tehachapi Rips North, 34-12
The Warriors had a little warning for pass-happy Independence as they prepared for their South Yosemite League opener this week.
“We're going to put pressure on people and dare them to get rid of the ball,” head coach Steve Denman said. “If they want to hold onto it, they will pay the price.”
The Warriors varsity completed a 4-1 preseason on Friday, Oct. 2, with a 34-12 victory at North. Keyron Scott rushed for 243 yards and scored three touchdowns, and quarterback Lars Olofson had a pair of short rushing TD's, as well.
Now, the Warriors' attention turns toward league play, starting with a road game at Independence on Friday night, Oct. 9. The Falcons were 2-3 after winning the final two games of their preseason.
“They'll be tough,” Denman said a day after the victory over North. “I haven't looked at their film yet, but from what they did last year, they'll throw the ball.
“They come at you with a good front line and a lot of wideouts.”
Independence lost all-city quarterback Jordan Wiley to graduation after last season and replaced him with another all-city player, converted wide receiver Fred Weaver.
“I'm not sure what offense they'll be running yet, but we'll be ready for them,” Denman said.
It was obvious early on against North that Scott was ready, too.
After the Warriors were forced to punt on their first possession, Scott broke his longest run of the game, a 79-yarder, that set up Olofson's 2-yard TD run on Tehachapi's second possession, making it 7-0.
Scott scored on a 10-yard run minutes later, giving the Warriors a 14-0 lead, and they were off to the races. Tehachapi led 28-6 at halftime and 34-6 after three quarters, when the reserves came in.
It could have been worse, but the Warriors ran up 117 yards in penalties that cost them. One third-quarter drive, in particular, was stalled by a 15-yard penalty.
“We played some really good defense, and we tackled well,” Denman said. “The offense controlled the ball, and we got some turnovers that helped us keep the defense off the field.”
The Tehachapi defense came away with just one sack, by Daniel Wight, but harassed and hurried the Falcons quarterbacks all game long, coming away with interceptions by Jackson Caudle and Tanner Herman.
“They came at us, but our kids were tough,” Denman said.
Colton Eaton and Olofson also both had fumble recoveries, and Eaton had one of two blocked punts by Warriors special teams. Thomas Blewett had the other.
“They were a very physical team, but I think our quickness helped us,” Denman said. “We were just quicker than they were. We played a good, solid game against an improving offense. We asked them to step it up, and they did.”
Scott's longest touchdown run came in the second quarter on a 56-yard scamper. He also scored on a 6-yard run in the third quarter. Scott rushed 19 times in the game.
Through five games, Scott has rushed 72 times for 765 yards. He had a 286-yard rushing game in the Warriors opener against Foothill.
“Our offense was clicking a little bit with what their defense was giving us,” Denman said. “We kept going to Keyron because that's what they kept giving us.”
The Warriors gained 326 of their 362 total yards of offense on the ground.
After the game at Independence, the Warriors return home for three straight games against East Bakersfield, Golden Valley and powerhouse Ridgeview, which went into league play undefeated.
Warrior defender Caleb Huebner #42 tracks down the North High Star running back Friday night in Bakersfield.
The Warrior first team defense was once agian stellar limiting North to just 6 points through the first three quarters.
Photo by TBC Media Group.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final Tehachapi 14 14 0 6 34 North 6 0 0 6 12
The Scoring:
First quarter:
T: Olofson 2 run (Lins kick)
T: Scott 10 run (Lins kick)
N: Davidson 20 pass from Garnett (run failed)
Second quarter:
T: Scott 56 run (Lins kick)
T: Olofson 1 run (Lins kick)
Third quarter:
T: Scott 6 run (run failed)
Fourth quarter:
N: Ramos 8 run (pass failed)
Tehachapi vs North
THS NHS First Downs 12 12 Rushes-Yards 43-326 36-91 Passing Yards 36 96 Comp-Att-Int 1-2-0 7-16-2 Total Yards 362 187 Punts 1-42.0 3-35.3 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 4-2 Penalties 12-117 7-60
Individual Statistics:
RUSHING—Tehachapi: Scott 19-243, Macon 7-41, Vachon 6-13, Powell 2-10, Whitlach 3-8, Olofson 5-6, Ledesma 1-5.
North: Threlkeld 18-36, Davidson 5-23, Ramos 7-20, Marquez 3-13, Mouser 1-2, Hood 1-2, Garnett 1-(-5).
PASSING—Tehachapi: Olofson 1-2-0-36. North: Garnett 4-9-2-67, Mouser 3-7-0-29.
RECEIVING—Tehachapi: Bethany 1-36. North: Davidson 3-34, Gilmore 2-32, Hood 1-23, Ramos 1-7.
Varsity – Tehachapi (4-1), North (2-4)
Junior Varsity - Tehachapi 40 North 26
Frosh-Soph Game - Tehachapi 6 North 14
