The Blitz Bowl, a high school all-star event put on by the Arena Football 2 franchise Bakersfield Blitz, is the only known arena-style high school all-star game in the entire country. Pera is the third Tehachapi lineman to play in the inaugural Kern County All-Star game, and sixth player overall in four years. Other Tehachapi players that have been selected to play include Jacob Perry in 2002, Bob DiRado in 2003, Tanner Hutchinson and Tyler McCann in 2004, and Mike Faulkner in 2005.

Faulkner elected to sit out the game to prepare for the upcoming Bakersfield College season, where he will play for the Renegades at linebacker.

For Pera, the final score might not have been the storybook ending that the All-SSL defensive lineman hoped it would be in a 45-30 East All-Star loss, but the positive memories still flooded through all-the-same.

“It’s hard to believe it’s all over, it was great playing Warrior football,” said Pera. “There’s a lot of pride that you get wearing that (Tehachapi High) helmet.”

The Warriors were well represented in the game, with Pera helping the East All-Stars start strong with a quick 13-0 lead and 22-6 lead through the second quarter. Two of the scores came from All-SLL second team selection Arvin Runningback Hector Velasquez, who benefited from Pera’s blocking to tack on two goal line touchdowns. Pera was also instrumental in maintaining the line of scrimmage in the passing game, helping to contribute to a Frankie Garza (Arvin Wide Receiver) touchdown catch before halftime.

CALLING THE SHOTS - Trenton Pera (#72) manned the tackle position on offense for most of the game, helping the East All-Stars start off with a 22-6 lead in the first half.  The East All-Stars compiled talent from Bakersfield, Highland, Foothill, Frazier Mountain, East, Arvin, South, Garces, and Tehachapi.

The quick start showed that there was continuity and teamwork among the players with East.

Coach Maples (East All-Star coach) was a zealous guy, a players coach,” said Pera. “The staff on our team poured their hearts out to the players and really got to know us and vise versa, so it made it easy for us to gel as a team pretty quickly.”

Along with teamwork, Pera also had a chance to forge relationships with some of the elite players in Kern County.

“I had a chance to meet and make friends with a lot of the players on the team, especially the guys on the front line like Isaac Quiroz (Foothill) and Chris Watkins (BHS), guys I probably wouldn’t have had a chance to talk to if it wasn’t for all-star games like this,” said Pera.

Overall, Pera approached his final high school game the same way he had for two seasons as a Warrior down-lineman, with collective mental preparation an intense passion that transcended to the player’s around him, snap-after-snap.

“Trent watched the movie ‘Friday Night Lights’ before this game and it really got to him,” said Duana Pera, Trent’s mother. “After that movie he realized that high school football was over and how much he’ll really miss it.”

Just like it was for Odessa Permian’s Boobie Miles, Brian Chavez, and Mike Winchell in Friday Night Lights, the high school playing days have come to and end for Tehachapi’s 1^st Team All-SSL and 2^nd Team All-Area defensive lineman Trenton Pera.

“Playing arena football was a different experience…a great experience,” Pera said. “Having the crowds close to the field and not 20 yards away made for a more entertaining game...it was great being apart of it, I’ll miss playing high school ball.”

ROUTE RUNNING? - Trenton Pera (#72) got a chance to go out for a pass in the high-octane Arena Football environment while Taft's All-SSL linebacker Chase Blackwood (#54) gives chase.  Even though Pera didn't catch a pass in the contest, fellow lineman Isaac Quiroz (Foothill) did, helping the East All-Stars drive downfield at different phases of the game.

	Here's a complete list of all South Sequoia League Players in the Blitz Bowl: 33-Alex House-FB/LB-Wasco, 52-Juan Zamudio-OL/DL-Shafter, 54-Chase Blackwood-LB/FB-Taft, 72-Jeff Fannon-OL/DL-Taft, 1-Frank Garza-WR/DB-Arvin, 2-Hector Velasquez-FB/LB-Arvin, 5-Jose Tamayo-QB/DB-Arvin, 44-Mike Faulkner-FB/LB-Tehachapi, 72-Trenton Pera-OL/DL-Tehachapi Mike Faulkner is still recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the season in 2004...and looks to be a strong contributor for BC next fall.  Both Faulkner and Pera have been selected to play for the Renegades.
	Probably the bit of news many of you are curious about coming into the next season is the 2005 Schedule for the Warriors.  Well fans, wait no longer, here it is.  Not much change from last year, just a reversal of locations.  Tehachapi did have a prelim date set up with Burroughs, but as of now, week 1 is still an open date.  Interim Athletic Director Val Bowen is manning the phones though, trying to contact southern section teams that might have an open date in week 1 to play the Warriors. 2005 Schedule Date Opponent 2-Sep at West (Scrim) 9-Sep Open 17-Sep at Paraclete (AV College - Sat) 23-Sep Foothill 30-Sep at Stockdale 7-Oct Garces 14-Oct at Wasco 21-Oct Taft 28-Oct at Arvin 4-Nov at Shafter 11-Nov Golden Valley
	Some sad news for Valley High School…it appears that the school that was created less than a decade ago might be closing its doors for good after school officials made the determination that it wasn’t feasible for the Christian School to continue another year, siting economic shortcomings.  The Lions, a predominantly 8-man program in recent years, has enjoyed success in those ranks, consistently getting recognition as one of the state’s top 8-man programs.  The Lions finished the year 4-6 last season.  In 2003, Valley was rated #1 in all of California through October after starting the season 7-0.
	Congratulations to Warrior Track-and-Field runner Brandon Rooney, who won the invite section of the boys 1,600 meters at the Pasadena Games Saturday at Pasadena City College. Rooney's time of 4:16.07 seconds was tops out of a field of the premier prep-runners in all of southern California.  Centennial’s Nathan Longcrier was fourth in the same event at 4:20.41.
\	CVPreps recently announced their “2005 Rising Stars” for the upcoming football season.  Making the list were 2004 starting defensive end Chad Johnson and offensive lineman Chris Dockery.  Congratulations to both players for the early recognition!  Hopefully there will be more accolades for Tehachapi players at seasons end…
	Don’t forget that spring ball is fast approaching!  Current students interested in playing football of all class levels should contact the coaches at the school for more information.  Workouts are slated to begin the last two weeks in May.
	Tehachapi will once again be hosts for the “National Offensive Football Camp” (formerly called the Golden State Wing-T Camp) this season.  The staff, which will include some of the premier coaching minds in the entire country, will be coming to Tehachapi on June 17-19.  The Warriors will be joined by some of the other prominent wing-t camps in Southern California, with the full team attendance still TBD.  If you’re a player or parent, please fill out the brochure for the camp and hand it to coach Denman as the camp date draws closer.
	There will be more Weekly Warrior articles to come infrequently throughout the off-sesaon, be sure to tune in to get the latest new, highlights, and commentary!  Thanks to all of you for logging in and supporting Tehachapi High School Warrior athletics!