THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Posted 09-20-03

Above:  Tanner Hutchinson runs  for the Warriors 2nd touchdown of the game, a 35-yard score in the first quarter.

This game could have been worse...much worse.  But...that's not Tehachapi's style.

After surmounting a 35-0 halftime lead, Tanner Hutchinson and the Tehachapi first string unit ran their last play on offense on their first third quarter possession, handing over the baton to future Warrior stars to log a 49-13 romp at Coy Burnett.

Foothill came into the game with an 0-2 record, losing to two very formidable Bakersfield teams in North and West, by a combined score of 77-24.  In retrospect, the Warriors also entered the game with a 0-2 record, losing a heartbreaker in week 1 over Burros before facing a brick wall in Clovis East.  All in all, casting aside any potential tie scenarios, someone had to come out on top in this game.

There was never a doubt.  That team was definitely going to be Tehachapi.

The first play from scrimmage showed signs of a long night for the Mountain Football guests, with wingback Mike Wright busting through the Trojan contingent for an 80-yards score on Tehachapi's first play of the game.

80 yards and touchdown, on Wright's first play.  An 80.0 yard average isn't too bad...ey Warrior fans?  Wright would go on to carry the ball four more times for 27 yards, helping him to log his first 100-yard game of the season (I know the paper said 99 yards...but Wright had a seven yard carry that was fumbled on is second play...those yards still count Warrior fans!)

Tehachapi's trump card (Hutchinson) didn't do too bad himself, carrying the ball seven times for 131 yards and a first quarter score.

"We practiced all week for this game, we wanted to be disciplined and limit the penalties," said Warrior defensive specialist Jon Anderson.  "We knew our focus going into this game was our offense, and we're just glad we got the job done."

Overall, 330 yards of ground game display the mountain-wing at it's best.  On passing, you also have to give a lot of credit to Mike Papac, who hauled in a well thrown ball by AJ Barcelona for an 18-yard scoring jaunt in the second quarter.  Having a sure-handed tight end that's a sophomore should be a bright spot for Tehachapi football in 2003 and years to come.

"It feels great to get a win, the first two teams were tough, but they helped us in our preparation for this game," said Warrior Linebacker Sean Finley.  "I think defensively we played a good game, everyone was flying around the football."

Some first half defensive statistics for you.  Foothill total yards gained in the first half:  9 yards.  Ending results of the Trojans' eight total drives in the first and second quarter:  Punt, Punt, Fumble Recovery, Punt, Punt, Interception, Punt, Punt.  Having a Warrior D that can step up and dominate the line of scrimmage:  Priceless (ok, sorry...I couldn't resist on that last one).

"We had great penetration in the game, especially when they were going back to punt," said Warrior Kris Haycock.  "We were getting to the backfield on (Matt Alvarez) and (Dan Ingle), giving us a short field to work with."

Alvarez, Foothill's star placekicker, punter, and wideout, went out a couple times in the game, having being subjected to 'roughing-the-kicker' penalties by the referee crew.  Ingle also had a long night as well, getting sacked six times and intercepted twice.  The talented QB did come back strong in the end however, hooking up with Manuel Martinez for two scores and 159 total yards passing against Tehachapi's secondary reserves.

Player of the Week honors could be a horn-a-plenty, but three players emerged in the game as victors of the spoil in week 3.  On special teams, Warrior Kris Haycock receives recognition for his 7-7 performance in PAT's.  It's been a while since the Warriors have scored 49 points and not had to attempt any two-point conversions, so way to go Kris!  On offense and defense, Jon Anderson helped limit the Trojan rushing game to only 39 total yards on the ground, posting four tackles, five pressures, and a fumble recovery.  Sean Finley was in the spotlight as well, amassing five tackles, four pressures, two sacks, and two touchdowns (one off a 35-yard punt return block for a touchdown and another a 12-yard run for a score in the second quarter).  Congratulations!

Jon Anderson (#6), Kris Haycock (#2), and Sean Finley (#32)
WEEKLY WARRIOR PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Other players that turned in solid performances included Jeremy Clark, who had one of the best showings in the first 24 minutes of the game, logging in five tackles, a pass deflection, two pressures, and an interception off of Foothill third year QB Dan Ingle, while also scoring the last play of the game on a 21-yard touchdown run.  Anthony Scott, Josh Lange, and Mike Faulkner also contributed with nine total tackles and three sacks between them at the monster and linebacker positions.  Sean Rogers, Marcos Coates, Dan Haycock, Vincent Flores, and Matt Patience were also able to get in the action with three tackles each.  

In signs of good things to come in future years...Jameson Freymond had a nice over-the-shoulder interception in the games closing minutes, while Ceaser Gonzalez did well on offense, carrying the ball five times for 24 yards and a score, while Coates had 47 yards on ten carries. 

Above:  Action against the Foothill Trojans

Tulure Union may be 0-2-1 on the year, but they are not without their firepower. In 2002, Redskin tailback Fernando Sun was a bright spot for Tulare, scoring on a 35-yard run in the fourth quarter to log in 198 yards rushing in the 44-14 Warrior win.  In 2003, Sun is back to turn in a similar performance, and settle the score. In the Redskins' week 1 tie to Golden West, Sun had 180 yards on 15 carries and two scores, while Tulure sophomore quarterback Emmanuel Lewis passed for 142 yards and two touchdowns, with one score going to talented wideout Andrew Lopez and the other to Josh Johnson.  Lopez also had a standout game in week 2, hauling in eight receptions for 97 yards and score in the 48-13 loss to Lemoore. Overall, record aside, the talent pool is deep for Tulare Union at the skilled positions, with starters Marshall Oliver, Justin Serpa, and Vince Uranga looking to make solid contributions for their team in the '03 season along with Lopez and Johnson.  While the offense might not be as potent as Tehachapi's week 1 date with Burroughs, the results could be just as inflicting if Lewis is given enough time in the pocket to find his targets. "We've faced some pretty good offenses and players so far this year," said Sean Finley.  "We think that Tulare might bring a little something different to the game this week, but overall I think we need to try and get some momentum early in the game and just play our style of football." Tulare Union has been the pleasant benefactor of some very talented players, particularly on offense, with names like Dominque Dorsey still looming in the central section gabber as one of the great players of the new century.  Dorsey currently is playing football at UNLV. Overall, for the Warriors to be successful on the road this week, stopping Fernando Sun will be key, while also getting heavy pressure on the Redskins young quarterback Lewis. "We're looking forward to this game, we want to do our best this week in practice and Friday night," said Haycock.  "It feels good to get the first win of the year, but we know in order to continue getting victories it takes discipline from everyone on the team to get the job done." Above:  Last year's action verses the Tulare Union, Tehachapi won the 2002 contest, 44-14

Check out the Timberwolves!  After dispatching Tehachapi 27-0 in week 2, Tim Murphy and Clovis East shocked the Southern Section with an impressive 17-13 win over Long Beach Poly.  That is a huge win for CE, and it also shows that maybe the Warriors aren't too far off the radar screen in the grand scheme of prep football in 2003.  The Timberwolves just beat the a team ranked 23 in the nation...giving the Jackrabbits their first hone loss since 1986.

Maybe those 'ballers from the Modesto area aren't too shabby afterall....Oakdale just upset the sequoia's top team in Yosemite, 28-26, to give the Badgers their first loss on the year.  Other games included Wasco losing big again, this time to Coalinga, 49-6, while Dinuba took care of Kingsburg with ease, cruising to a 33-0 victory behind the play of standout QB Jose Del Rio.  Selma improved to 3-0 on the year with a 35-3 route over Fowler, and Exeter flexed their East Sequoia League muscle with a convincing 27-7 win over Shafter.  In other games, Dos Palos took care of Los Banos 34-12, Taft blasted through Kern Valley 60-6, and Arvin and Garces both fell to West and Liberty, 54-7 and 34-10, respectively.

Hit's of the week go out to a couple of #68's.  On the junior varsity level, Travis Pull was lacing some wicked hits on the Titans, registering a few pancakes in a 19-0 win to bring the Braves' record to 2-1 on the year.  For the Warriors, Phil Christensen sent the Warriors fans in a state of "ooo and aaaahs", with his heat-seeking missile roaches on special teams in the second half.  Christensen hit one player so hard he had to have is neck iced-down for most the remainder of the game...but he did comeback to register a sack in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.  Good job guys, keep hitting a flying!