Warrior players ham it up for the camera back on media day in August, but the team will be all business beginning Friday night when they begin
South Yosemite League play against Independence. Warrior players include #3 Angel Garcia, #56 Gabe Dodge, #54 Sam Henley,
#44 Jerry Castaneda, and #20 Chris Rhodes. Photo courtesy Denise Rhodes.
Second in a two part series posted August 13, 2014 by Tom Shea, The Tehachapi News. Mountain Football Preview: The South Yosemite League
Below is a breakdown of South Yosemite League games scheduled for Tehachapi this year. This is the first year the Warriors have competed in the South Yosemite League.
Independence at Tehachapi -- Oct 10
The league opens up with what could possibly be the Kern County game of the week, but if not, most certainly the top contest in the South Yosemite League. The Falcons return one of the area's top quarterbacks in senior Jordan Wiley, who passed for 1,126 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. Helping Wiley will be a balanced attack on offense with a strong running game, with Jalen Summerville (504 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and Kobe Stancil (223 yards rushing) looking to take a bulk of the carries. The Falcons are no stranger to success, battle-tested in the SWYL the last few years and finding success with deep runs in the Division III playoffs.
"We are in a really, really competitive league. It might not be the grind week-in and week-out that it was in the SWYL for us, but you still have to gear up to play Ridgeview, Tehachapi and West. All those schools have been in the semifinals or farther the last few years," said head coach Sean McKeown. "I'm excited at our senior leadership that we've shown during camp."
Opponent's 2013 Record: 6-7 (0-5 Southwest Yosemite League)
Opponent's Top Player Returning: #8 Jordan Wiley -- Senior (1,126 passing yards, 16 TDs); Jalen Summerville -- Senior (504 rushing yards, 5 TDs)
Game Times: Varsity (7:30 p.m.), Junior Varsity (5 p.m.), Freshmen (5 p.m. -- Thursday)
Last Season: No Score
All-Time Series Record: Teams have never played
East High at Tehachapi -- Oct 17
East will have a new coach in charge this season in former Garces head man David Fanucchi. His arrival could signal in a step in the right direction for the Blades. Josh Carrillo is expected to be a leader on offense and defense this season after helping East to 339 yards rushing and a team leading 73 tackles last year. Also looking to contribute is Joseph Gutierrez, Sergio Rivera and Jose Sanchez on both sides of the ball. Back this season is senior quarterback Ben Flores, who had a productive sophomore season before bowing out his junior year due to injury.
"We need to get going and get on board as soon as possible," said coach David Fanucchi. "(The coaches) owe it to these guys to be the best we can be right now. You look at the teams that are in (the SYL), there are some outstanding teams. We look at that as a great challenge for us."
Opponent's 2013 Record: 3-7 (2-3 Southeast Yosemite League)
Opponent's Top Player Returning: #32 Josh Carrillo -- Senior (339 yards rushing, 3 TDs, 73 tackles)
Game Times: Varsity (7:30 p.m.), Junior Varsity (5 p.m.), Freshmen (5 p.m. -- Thursday)
Last Season: Tehachapi won 40-17
All-Time Series Record: Tehachapi leads 11-3
Tehachapi at Golden Valley -- Oct 24
Traditionally, the Bulldogs have been known to have some of the best skilled players in the valley year-to-year, and this season will be no exception. Next to Sheldon Croney, Golden Valley returns one of the most prolific running backs in the Central Section in Andrew Dean, who torched his way to over 1,000 yards rushing, 200 yards receiving and 19 total touchdowns last year. Also back is Tyler Watters, who as a sophomore last season threw for 1,126 yards and 10 passing touchdowns, along with 467 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Watters will have some big-time targets to throw to again this season in Jachi Harrell (419 yards receiving, 3 TDs), Chris Williams (234 yards receiving, 2 TDs) and Jacob Vallejo.
"We don't control the league. It's an honor to be put into this category," said head coach Erich Smith. "We have a heavy senior class which is very nice and I think they understand their long term goals."
Opponent's 2013 Record: 5-6 (1-3 South Yosemite League)
Opponent's Top Player Returning: #28 Andrew Dean -- Senior (1,164 yards rushing, 19 TDs), #5 Tyler Watters -- Junior (1,126 yards passing, 15 TDs)
Game Times: Varsity (7:30 p.m.), Junior Varsity (5 p.m.), Freshmen (5 p.m. -- Thursday)
Last Season: Did not play; last meeting was 2008, Tehachapi won 48-24
All-Time Series Record: Tehachapi leads 2-1
Tehachapi at Ridgeview -- Oct 31
No team in Kern County received more attention this off-season than Ridgeview, and rightly so, with blue-chip Division I recruit running back Sheldon Croney transferring from Garces for his senior year. Croney was a one-man wrecking crew for the Rams last season, guiding his team to 2,377 yards rushing, 29 touchdowns and Kern County's offensive player of the year honors. Add his explosiveness to an already vested Wolfpack squad, who have been to the Division III CIF finals the last three seasons, you have the whole valley gushing that Ridgeview is the team to beat in the SYL and the CIF Division II playoffs. Ridgeview returns virtually all of their offensive output from last year, led by leading rusher Jacob Lopez (894 yards rushing, 11 TDs), who comes into this season in full health after missing playing time last year with a high ankle sprain. Also back is running backs Darius Smith (852 yards rushing, 5 TDs), Ja'Mar Moya (368 yards rushing, 4 TDs) and quarterback Lawrence White (942 yards passing, 629 yards rushing, 21 TDs).
"It's fun to win everything but really it's about the experience of your kids coming together and playing hard and maximizing their potential," said head coach Dennis Manning. "Hopefully this year we have a little more potential than last year."
Opponent's 2013 Record: 8-6 (3-1 South Yosemite League)
Opponent's Top Player Returning: #1 Sheldon Croney -- Senior (2,377 rushing yards, 202 receiving yards, 29 TDs); #7 Lawrence White -- Junior (941 yards passing, 629 yards rushing, 21 TDs)
Game Times: Varsity (7:30 p.m.), Junior Varsity (5 p.m.), Freshmen (5 p.m. -- Thursday)
Last Season: Did not play; last meeting was 2008, Tehachapi won 28-14
All-Time Series Record: Tehachapi leads 4-0
West High at Tehachapi -- Nov 7
The Vikings lost a lot of firepower from a very talented senior class in 2013. However, that is the cyclical nature of high school football, and the juniors and sophomores from last season will have to step up and carry on. Gone are Stanley Dubbard (1,104 yards, 18 TDs) and Fred Wilson (506 yards rushing, 315 yards receiving, 11 TDs), but in to take their place will be Jacob Pesina, who had 227 yards rushing and strong 5.03 yards per carry average last year. Blocking up front for Pesina will be talented lineman Terry Stevens and Cedric Boykin, who are both expected to see significant time on defense as well. Coach Mark Camps is also high on senior Nick Murphy, who did not play last year due to injury but saw a lot of playing time as a sophomore in 2012.
"We do have some uncertainty. We lost some really good players from last year so we're going to rely on some younger guys to step up and take some bigger roles," said head coach Mark Camps. "I like the group we have and the way they're coming together right now. We're going about our business everyday trying to get a little better."
Opponent's 2013 Record: 5-6 (3-1 South Yosemite League)
Opponent's Top Player Returning: #60 Terry Stephens -- Senior (Offensive/Defensive Line, 42 tackles), #24 Jacob Pesina -- Senior (327 yards rushing)
Game Times: Varsity (7:30 p.m.), Junior Varsity (5 p.m.), Freshmen (5 p.m. -- Thursday)
Last Season: Tehachapi won 48-6
All-Time Series Record: Tehachapi leads 3-1
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