1959 Warriors
The 1959 Warriors include, top row, left to right, head coach Austin Jordan, Don Snider, Dan Acuna, Eugene Hayes, Ted Leiva,
Dave Eckert, Thurn Thompson, Mike Killingsworth, Dan Cronin, Clarence Hibbs, Dick Arnold, assistant coach Albert Roberts,
front row, Rito Cerbantez, Bob Mitchell, Stan Beckham, Gene Rymel, Ray Quesada, Doug Bingham, Charles Breault, Leroy Booth,
Ed Wiggins, Alan First, and team manager Darrel Hayes.
Featuring a roster of just 20 players, and plagued by key injuries throughout the season, the 1959 Warriors had a tough-luck season, as they compiled a 2-3 record in DIL play; and an overall mark of 4-5. Trona won the 1959 league championship. Warriors Suffer Back-to-Back Losing Seasons
With a 4-5 Campaign In 1959In the season opener, the Warriors lost a heartbreaking 6-0 game at home against Burroughs High School. The Burros scored in the final two minutes of the game on a 45 yard interception return. The Warriors managed to collect only 119 yards of total offense in the game.
In Week 2, the Warriors earned their first win of the season by narrowly defeating the South High School JV Rebels, 14-13. The first TD of the season came on a Dan Acuna to Gene Rymal 16 yard pass play. Down 13-6, the Warriors scored in the 4th quarter on a 10 play, 62 yard drive, ending with an Acuna to Thurn Thompson 15 yard pass play. Thompson scored on the PAT run to seal the final 14-13 victory. Tehachapi netted 164 yards of total offense in the game, with Thompson running for 69 of those yards.
In Week 3, the Warriors played host to their third consecutive home game. The Warriors delighted the hometown crowd with a 20-7 win over McFarland. Acuna had two TD passes in the game to Thompson and Mike Killingsworth, and Doug Bingham scored the final TD on a 19 yard interception return.
In their final non-league game, Tehachapi traveled to Strathmore in Week 4. Dick Arnold scored the lone Warrior TD on a 1 yard plunge as Tehachapi lost their second game of the season, 20-6.
In Week 5, the Warriors opened up DIL play with a road game in Bishop. Set-up by an Acuna to Thompson 40 yard pass play, the Warriors scored in the 2nd quarter when Eugene Hayes scored on a 4 yard run play. With 6 minutes left to play in the game, the score was tied 7-7 and the Warriors had the ball --- but a costly interception led to a Bishop score. The Broncos closed out the game with another score in the final minute of the game.
In Week 6, the Warriors earned their first league win of the season with a 39-19 thumping of Lone Pine. Thompson scored twice on runs of 43 and 12 yards; Bingham scored twice on runs of 29 and 28 yards; Hayes scored on a 1 yard dive play; and Acuna connected with Bob Mitchell on a 22 yard pass play.
In Week 7, the Warriors racked up 290 yards of offense in a 26-0 shutout over Mojave. Bingham scored twice on runs of 15 and 6 yards; Rymel scored on a 4 yard run; and Thompson hit paydirt on a 17 yard scamper.
In Week 8, the Warriors traveled to Edwards Air Force Base, and suffered their most lopsided loss of the season to Desert, 26-7. Hayes scored the lone Warrior TD on a 1 yard dive. Thompson paced Tehachapi with 96 yards rushing on 20 carries. Desert, behind their dynamic duo of Barry Babine and Henry McQueen, would go on to be the "true" champions of the DIL. But the Scorpions had to forfeit two games early in the season due to the use of an illegal player.
In the final game of the season, the Warriors traveled to "The Pit" and lost to Trona, 10-0. Clarence Hibbs, Ray Quesada, and Ed Wiggins were credited with outstanding defensive games by the coaching staff. Trona emerged as the 1959 champion as the result of the games forfeited by Desert.
Bingham led the 1959 Warriors in scoring with 6 TD's (36 points). Wingback (and Team Captain) Thurn Thompson and guard Dave Eckert paced the Warriors by being selected to the all-league 1st team. Don Snider was selected to the all-league 2nd team.
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| OPPONENT | THS | OPP | L | GAME HIGHLIGHT | |
| Sep 26 | Burroughs (Ridgecrest) | 00 | 06 | H | |
| Oct 3 | South High JV's (Bakersfield) | 14 | 13 | H | Dan Acuna: 2 TD passes |
| Oct 10 | McFarland | 20 | 07 | H | Dan Acuna: 2 TD passes |
| Oct 16 | Strathmore | 06 | 20 | A | Dick Arnold: 1 TD run |
| Oct 24 | Bishop * | 07 | 21 | A | Eugene Hayes: 1 TD run |
| Oct 31 | Lone Pine * | 39 | 19 | H | Thurn Thompson: 2 TD runs |
| Nov 7 | Mojave * | 26 | 00 | H | Doug Bingham: 2 TD runs |
| Nov 13 | Desert (Edwards AFB) * | 07 | 26 | A | Eugene Hayes: 1 TD run |
| Nov 19 | Trona * | 00 | 10 | A |
* Denotes League Game
Thurn Thompson (#3 with the ball) drives for a good gain against the Mojave Mustangs on the mountain. The Warriors won the 1959 game, 26-0,
much to the delight of the Coy Burnett Field homecoming crowd.