1976 Warriors
The 1976 Warriors include, bottom row, l to r, Chet Bowles, Mark Hackler, Dean Koutroulis, Vince McLaughlin, Rick Ricker, Harold Bullard, Willie Bradley, Jon Lantz, Mike Shelton, Mark Grantham;
middle row, l to r, Mike Pettigrew, Brad Harrington, Frank Shipman, Don Kovach, Brent Peterson, Ronald Fredrickson, Tim Eilers, Roger Woodcock, Jeff Larson, Eddie Sparks;
back row, l to r, Steve Barker, Mike Shipman, Jeff Gattian, Derek Tisinger, Kerry Hawkins, David Barker, Rod Harrington, Scott Shelton, Albert Sanchez, Rick Pinheiro, and Evan Drake.
Warriors Finish 3rd in DIL With Final 6-2-1 Log
Ricker Earns ALL-CIF Honors
In Week 1, the Warrior defense was impressive but the offense could never get any momentum as Boron blanked Tehachapi, 7-0. Senior Rick Ricker could only muster 50 yards rushing and senior QB Chet Bowles went 4-12 passing, good for 50 yards.
In Week 2, the Warriors overpowered the turnover plagued Golden Eagles, 45-6. The offesnive parade was led by Bowles with an 8 for 11, 127 yard passing performance with one TD pass to Albert Sanchez; Ricker scored 2 TD's rushing; Mike Pettigrew rushed for a TD; Rick Pinheiro scored on an interception return; and Bowles rushed for one TD.
In Week 3, the Warriors improved their league record to 2-1 with a 32-0 shutout win over Desert at Edwards AFB. Bowles went 7-15 (92 yds. passing) connecting on TD passes with Vince McLaughlin and Mark Grantham (twice). Ricker rushed for 100 yards on 16 carries and scored 1 TD; Pettigrew adding the other rushing TD.
In Week 4, the Warriors won their third game in a row by defeating Kern Valley High School, 35-6. Bowles had his biggest offensive night of the season, rushing for 119 yards and 2 TD's. In the air, Bowles completed 6 of 10 passes for 96 yards, including a TD pass to Pinheiro. Ricker chipped in with a TD run, and Pettigrew returned an interception for a TD.
In the BIG game of the year, the Warriors played host to the undefeated Bishop Broncos in Week 5. The Warriors played an inspired game, but fell short by a final 18-10 count. Bishop was led by the CIF Southern Section 1A Player of the Year, Gary Kaiser. For Tehachapi, Ricker racked up 118 yards rushing on 19 carries, but the scoring came via a Bowles 20 yard field goal, and a Bowles-to-Pinheiro 8 yard pass late in the game.
In Week 6, the highly favored Warriors held on to defeat Mammoth in the northern Sierra's, 17-7. Ricker rushed for 97 yards on 17 carries, scoring 1 TD rushing; Bowles booted a 25 yard FG; and Bowles connected on a TD pass with Sanchez. Bowles went 6-12, passing for 96 yards.
In Week 7, the Warriors earned their second shutout of the year in a 16-0 blanking of the Mojave Mustangs. Pettigrew had his biggest game of the season, rushing for 105 yards in 12 carries, scoring one TD on a 67 yard scamper. Ricker scored on a 2 yard plunge for the other TD and the Warrior defense earned the other 2 points with a safety. Bowles went 5-10 passing for 76 yards.
In Week 8, the Warriors held on to their playoff hopes with a 53-18 thrashing of the Rosamond Roadrunners. Improving to 6-2, the Warriors were led by Ricker with 3 rushing TD's (126 yds. rushing); Pettigrew rushed for 139 yards, and 2 TD's, including one 64 yd. run; Bowles scored on a TD run; and both McLaughin and Grantham scored on TD receptions from Bowles.
In the league finale, the Warriors became another victim of the famed Trona sand pit, settling for a 12-12 tie, dashing any hopes of a playoff birth. The underdog Tornadoes held off a late Warrior drive and missed FG attempt by Bowles to earn the tie. In The Pit, Ricker ran for 45 yards in 7 carries, scoring 1 TD, and Bowles threw for 153 yards on a 9 for 15 passing performance. McLaughlin scored on an 85 yard fumble return for the other Warrior TD.
For the 1976 season, Ricker rushed for 765 yards and scored 10 TD's (60 points) to lead the Warriors while Pettigrew added 400+ yards rushing and scored 6 TD's. QB Bowles had a tremendous season completing 54 passes for 787 passing yards (2nd in passing yards in the league). Bowles also connected on 9 TD passes; scored 4 TD's rushing; and booted 2 FG's and 20 PAT's (50 points scored).
Earning all-league 1st team honors for the Warriors were end Mark Grantham, tackle Mike Shelton, and running back Rick Ricker. Both Ricker (back) and Shelton (lineman) were named to the prestigious All-CIF Southern Section football team.
Mike Shelton was named the Most Valuable Player of the team by the coaching staff. Chet Bowles earned the Most Valuable Offensive Player award and Rick Ricker was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player.
Under head coach Harry Jasper, the junior varsity Braves were the league champions.
All-CIF running back Rick Ricker (#24) runs for a big gain against the Desert Scorpions in a 32-0 victory.
Ricker rushed for 765 yards and scored 10 TD's to lead the Warriors during the 1976 season.
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| OPPONENT | THS | OPP | L | GAME HIGHLIGHT | |
| Sep 17 | Boron | 00 | 07 | A | Rick Ricker: 50 yds. rushing |
| Sep 24 | Lone Pine | 45 | 06 | H | Rick Ricker: 2 TD's rushing |
| Oct 1 | Desert (Edwards AFB) | 32 | 00 | A | Rick Ricker: 2 TD's, 100 yds. rushing |
| Oct 8 | Kern Valley (Lake Isabella) | 35 | 06 | H | Chet Bowles: 2 TD's, 119 yds. rushing |
| Oct 15 | Bishop | 10 | 18 | H | Rick Pinheiro: 1 TD pass rec. |
| Oct 23 | Mammoth | 17 | 07 | A | Rick Ricker: 1 TD, 97 yds. rushing |
| Oct 29 | Mojave | 16 | 00 | A | Mike Pettigrew: 1 TD, 105 yds. rushing |
| Nov 5 | Rosamond | 53 | 18 | H | Rick Ricker: 3 TD's, 126 yds. rushing |
| Nov 12 | Trona | 12 | 12 | A | Vince McLaughlin: 1 TD, 85 yd. fumble return |