BURROS LOOK TO CIRCLE THE WAGON IN 2003
Posted 08-29-03

Above:  Led by Marcus Suorez (#99), Matt Williams (#20), Craig Owen (#25), Karsten Sween (#6), and Anthony Celestine (#2), Burroughs is set to lay down the lumber in their tough  first round match-up with THS in 2003.

One year removed from a disappointing 5-6 season, the Burros hope their wagon train ’03 campaign is headed on the right track with an influx of returning talent and a will-to-win by a core group of returning starters.

Tehachapi, playing a pre-season that is considered one of the toughest in the area, doesn’t have the luxury of playing a first-round ‘tune-up’ like some of their more prominent counterparts in the sequoia league, especially when opening against Ridgecrest, one of five Yosemite Division teams that the Warriors will face in their pre-season. 

“We’re looking forward to the upcoming season,” said Burro Coach Jeff Steinberg.  “We have a lot of young talent coupled with some experience that should help us have a lot of success when football kicks into full swing.”

The biggest shoes to fill for Burroughs High School will be tailback Philip Madison and quarterback Nolan Toftner, who both played considerable playing time for coach Jeff Steinberg’s Burros team the past three seasons, with Madison seeing considerable playing time all three years and Toftner his sophomore and senior seasons.

Toftner had a brilliant senior season in 2002, completing 167 passes for 2,659 yards (a Burroughs High School record), and 26 touchdowns.  For his varsity career, Toftner ended with 4,238 yards passing on 284 completions, firing for 46 touchdowns.

Yes sports fans.  46 Touchdowns.

Junior Karsten Sween will be talking over for Toftner, and will have big shoes to fill from the get-go. 

As for Madison, his services will be sorely missed in Ridgecrest as well, amassing 840 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final season last year, bringing his varsity totals to 1,852 yards and 24 touchdowns from 2000-2002.

“Losing quality young men like Madison and Toftner will be tough, but we have a couple good backs in (Matt) Williams and (Craig) Owen that should help us have some success, we’re counting on them to help carry some of the load.” said Steinberg. 

Williams did have some carries behind Madison last season, with the sophomore picking up 105 yards on 23 carries and a score.  Owens, who played primarily in the defensive secondary his junior year, will look to re-establish his dominance from the junior varsity in 2001 by sharing the carries with Williams.  Both players will undoubtedly be able to continue their success from their junior year on defense, with both players helping Burroughs to a #2 ranking in takeaways (31) in the Desert Sky League.  Returning in the takeaway department will be DB will be Anthony Celestine, who picked off seven passes to set the season school record for interceptions, one-upping 2001 teammate J.P. Stringer, who finished his 2001 senior year with six. 

Against the run on defense, Burroughs will return All-League defensive lineman Marcus Suorez, who created a lot of havoc for the Warriors in 2002 in his seven tackle performance.  Coach Steinberg also expects a lot of great things at the linebacker position, with up-and-coming sophomore Shawn Parker having an opportunity to get some varsity snaps, and Matt Bare, who will join two-way starter Matt Williams at the LB slot.

“We have tremendous respect for the Burroughs program.  They are a big school that is well coached and well disciplined.  We know that it will be a huge test for our players, especially against their wideouts, which are some of the best we’ve seen in a long time in the valley.” said Tehachapi Head Coach Steve Denman.

Those wideouts that Coach Denman mentions are whole-heartedly worthy of every praise that an opponent can give them.

You thought Nick Abarca, Tony Ruiz, and Teddy Patterson were good?  Check this guy out…

The superstar of Burros is highly touted two-way starter Celestine (who also plays DB, mentioned above), who in 2002 hauled in an alarming 59 receptions for 1,192 yards and 13 touchdowns (all Burroughs High School records), including nine 100-yard games.

For the record on Celestine, that’s one school record on defense, and three on offense.  Four total season records in 2002, as a junior.

Four.  As a junior.

Complementing Celestine will be Junior Ethan Cubit, who had 20 catches for 309 yards and three scores as a sophomore.  Will Johnson and Steve Eck also chipped in their junior years with a combined nine catches for 178 yards and a touchdown during Toftner's tenure at the helm.  Overall, if 2003 Junior Quarterback Karsten Sween can find the Burro talent around him, it should translate into a multitude of wins for the Ridgecrest football contingent in 2003.

“We’re excited about the season, we have eight starters returning on defense and five on offense, and twenty two players that saw considerable playing time in 2002.  We hope that we can start the season off well, and playing Tehachapi, it should be a great test.” added Steinberg.

Much like last season Warrior fans…look for the burro wagon train to get a little offensive when they head up the mountain.

Above:  ONE-2-WATCH - Anthony Celestine (#2), will be one of, if not the most talented wideouts the Warriors will face all season, highly regarded as one of the top receivers in the Southern Section.

Scrimmage action did leave a lot to be desired by the Warriors...West looks like they wont miss a beat from last year's Yosemite Division run.  Below are some pictures from the scrimmage, click on each pic for a larger version, then hit your browser's back button to go back to this Weekly Warrior page. Above:  Scrimmage vs. West High Vikings.

Attached below are some pictures of the practice digs at the new high school.  Rumblings of the goalposts stimulated the possibility of a new stadium to casual observers…but no such luck (at least anytime in the immediate future).  However, fresh sod and a sturdy set of uprights should help the Warriors whittle their way to some solid tune-up sessions before some big games.  Make sure you still migrate your way to Coy Burnett Stadium when Friday night comes rolling around… Above:  Practice Facility at the New High School.

For those that missed "Meet the Warrior Night", you can update your seats to the green section of the stadium if you join the Warrior Booster Club.  Information to do that can be found by contacting Warrior Booster President Gary Warner at 822-5686.  You will have to buy a booster member subscription and a small fee in order to get the green seat, but it’s well worth it!  Green seats are a one-time fee, and are good for every home game that year (including playoffs).  A meeting will be held at the North Snack Bar at Coy Burnett Stadium at 6pm, Tuesday, Sept. 2nd.  The cost is $10 per green seat, and booster club memberships are $30 per family, which include a hat and t-shirt.  All proceeds go towards Tehachapi High School athletics.  See you at the North Snack Bar!  (For Warrior alumni and fans afar...$30 can land you this cool hat and t-shirt as well...display your Warrior pride on your edge of the world, contact Gary for shipping details!) Above:  With a $30 Booster Club Membership, you receive a free Warrior Hat and T-Shirt

Below are some pictures of the inner-squad scrimmage that went on August 24th.  Click on each pic for a larger version, click the back button to go back to weekly warrior page. Above:  Inner-squad Pictures.