Tehachapi at Independence Falcons-Bakersfield
October 6, 2017
Warrior Tanner Love #33 had a big night for the Warriors returning a kickoff 73 yards for an electrifying touchdown. It wasn't enough though
as Independence defeated the Warriors 14-13. Tehachapi, (1-5; 0-1 SYL) will now travel to East Bakersfield this Friday night. Photo by Vicky Shea, The Tehachapi News.
Posted by The Tehachapi News, on October 7, 2017. Falcons Edge Warriors On Late Touchdown
The Warriors were able to give Independence all they could handle last Friday night, nearly recording the win if it were not for a go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute to play in the game.
Independence (4-2; 1-0 SYL) secured the victory with a David Hernandez diving 35-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Sergio Borreli with 20 seconds left in the contest. The touchdown helped propel the Falcons to a 14-13 win in the South Yosemite League opener for both teams.
The late game heroics by the Falcons overshadowed a stellar performance by the Warrior defense, who held the No. 4 ranked team in the Central Section — Division III at bay for the majority of the evening.
“Our defense really played well, they kept us in the game,” said head coach Doug DeGeer. “We took it to them for three and a half quarters and we just let it get away from us at the end. There was so much fight tonight from our guys.”
Tehachapi’s defense forced four turnovers, two interceptions by Trevor Medovitch, an interception by Connor Timm and a fumble recovery by Hayden Palmer.
Dylan Ragsdale led the Warriors in takedowns with a season-high 17 tackles (10 solo, 7 assists), including a tackle for loss late in the second quarter to help keep the Falcons scoreless going into halftime.
Tehachapi (1-5; 0-1 SYL) recorded first points for either team in the third quarter when Timm scored on a three-yard run. The touchdown was set up by a fumbled punt return by the Falcons that gave the Warriors short field position at the Independence seven-yard line. Timm finished the night with 61 yards on 19 carries.
The Falcons answered Tehachapi on their next drive with a score to tie the game 7-7, but the Warriors immediately took the lead right back when Tanner Love took the ensuing kickoff return 73 yards for a touchdown. The score gave Tehachapi a 13-7 advantage with just under four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Other defensive standouts for the Warriors included Luke Soto recording eight tackles and Sean Schulgen, Peyton Stowers, Patrick Grimes and Palmer all recording seven tackles apiece. Dominic Counihan and Rory Bishop also had strong nights on defense with six tackles each.
On offense, Chris Garcia had 40 yards rushing and two completions at quarterback for 19 yards, a nine-yard pass to Soto and a 10-yard pass to Medovitch.
“It was a tough team that we played with a lot of good athletes. We are going to work on the things we need to clean up to get better,” added DeGeer. “Tonight was a good measuring stick for us, but we need to improve. It is just a matter of finishing out.”
The Warriors will continue their league schedule this Friday night at East. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. in Bakersfield.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final Tehachapi 0 0 13 0 13 Independence 0 0 7 7 14
The Scoring:
Third Quarter:
Teh: Timm 3 run (Medovitch kick)
Ind: Delouth 38 pass from Borelli (Crisantos kick)
Teh: Love 73 kickoff return (missed kick)
Fourth Quarter:
Ind: Hernandez 35 pass from Borelli (Crisantos kick)
Tehachapi vs Independence Stats
THS IHS First Downs 4 Rushes-Yards 31-93 31-75 Passing Yards 19 229 Comp-Att-Int 2-8-1 20-30-3 Total Yards 112 304 Punts 6-33.0 Penalties 12-90
Individual Statistics:
RUSHING—Tehachapi: Timm 20-51, Garcia 8-40, Palmer 2-4, Love 1-(-2);
Independence: Wyrick 18-92, Delouth 6-5, Borelli 5-0, Castellon 1-(-5), Brown 1-(-17).
PASSING—Tehachapi: Garcia 2-8-1 19; Independence: Borelli 19-28-3-220, Castellon 1-2-0-9.
RECEIVING—Tehachapi: Medovitch 1-10, Soto 1-9; Independence: Delouth 5-59, Wyrick 3-38, Jones 2-38, Hernandez 1-35, Henderson 5-27, Gordon 2-22, Brown 2-11.
JV: Tehachapi 00 Independence 33
Frosh: Tehachapi 14 Independence 28
Varsity Records: Tehachapi 1-5; 0-1 SYL. Independence 4-2; 1-0 SYL
