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2002 Warriors |
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The 2002 Warriors started the season off in grand fashion by winning their first five games of the season; four non-league contests and one league game. But the Taft Wildcats ended any Warrior dreams of an undefeated season by defeating the mountain men, 34-14, in Taft. The Warriors then rebounded to defeat a weak Arvin Bear team, but then suffered a heart breaking loss to the Shafter Generals on the mountain, 29-23. Warriors Finish 7-4 in 2002
Hutchinson: 1,136 Yards Rushing, 19 TD's
In the league finale, the Warriors faced their old rival Garces. Garces came into the game with an undefeated record and a rating as one of the top teams in the San Joaquin Valley --- led in part by their high octane offensive scoring machine. In a mudbowl in Bakersfield, the Warriors played one of their best games of the year trailing the Rams 7-6 midway through the 4th quarter. Costly late turnovers by the Warriors, however, led to an eventual 19-6 Ram victory. Garces went on to win a CIF Central Section valley title.
With an overall record of 6-3, 2-3 in league play, the Warriors qualified for the CIF playoffs as the third place team from the SSL. In the opening round, behind Tanner Hutchinson's three touchdowns, the Warriors defeated the Dinuba Emperors on the mountain, 36-12.
In the second round, the Warriors would again play on the mountain, only this time the mountain was in Oakhurst and the opponent was the #1 seeded Yosemite Badgers. Yosemite would prevail, 22-6, ending the Warrior season with a final 7-4 record.
Yosemite would go on to defeat Coalinga, 31 to 14, in the Sequoia "Large" Schools Division to win the section championship.
Garces defeated San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), 42 to 39, in the section finals to win the championship of the Sequoia "Small" Schools Division. Garces finished the season with an undefeated record.
Running the familiar Wing-T, quarterback Greg Sanchez, and running backs Tanner Hutchinson and Tony Troffer led the Warrior offense. Junior Tanner Hutchinson led the Warriors in 2002 rushing for 1,136 yards in 166 carries, and scoring 19 TD's.
Earning 1st team all-league honors for the Warriors were Jedd Ingraham (offensive lineman), Tanner Hutchinson (running back), Andy Grantham (def. lineman), Rob DiRado (def. back), and Josh Christy (def. linebacker). Alfredo Yttesen was selected to the 2nd team as a def. end. Seniors Josh Christy and Jedd Ingraham were also named the Co-Most Valuable Players for the 2002 Warrior team.
For a comlete listing of Tom Shea's 2002 "Weekly Warrior" articles, please click here.
The junior varsity Braves won a co-championship in the SSL with a 4-1 record; 6-3 overall. And the freshmen Indians also won the SSL at 3-1-1; 5-3-1 overall.
Click Here For
LISTING OF SSL CHAMPS
SINCE 1992
2002 Warrior Slide Show
Game-by-Game Regular Season Results
OPPONENT THS OPP L GAME HIGHLIGHT Sept 13 Burroughs (Ridgecrest) 21 14 A Tanner Hutchinson: 3 TD's, 90 yds. rushing Sept 20 Foothill (Bakersfield) 34 21 A Tanner Hutchinson: 2 TD's, 85 yds. rushing Sept 27 Tulare Union 44 14 H Tanner Hutchinson: 2 TD's, 183 yds. rushing Oct 4 Delano 15 06 A Tanner Hutchinson: 1 TD Oct 11 Wasco * 17 07 H Tanner Hutchinson: 1 TD, 187 yds. rushing Oct 18 Taft * 14 34 A Tanner Hutchinson: 1 TD, 154 yds. rushing Oct 25 Arvin * 43 09 H Tanner Hutchinson: 4 TD's, 150 yds. rushing Nov 1 Shafter * 23 29 H AJ Barcelona: 1 TD, 43 yard int. return Nov 8 Garces * 06 19 A Mike Wright: 1 TD, 31 yd. pass rec.
* Denotes League Game
CIF Central Section (San Joaquin Valley) Playoffs
OPPONENT THS OPP L GAME HIGHLIGHT Nov 15 Dinuba 36 12 H Tanner Hutchinson: 3 TD's, 139 yds. rushing Nov 22 Yosemite 06 22 A Tanner Hutchinson: 1 TD, 51 yds. rushing