TEHACHAPI NEWS - If there is a recent dynasty that can be claimed for football in the SSL, look no further than the Tehachapi Indians.

Mountain Football’s frosh team added another feather to their regalia this past Friday, claiming their fifth South Sequoia League championship in the decade with a 35-0 win over Bakersfield Christian.

“Everything that has gone on this season, our ups and downs, this end is sweet. Very sweet,” said head coach Bruce Schkade. “We ended up doing something that was spectacular, league champs.”

Suffice to say Tehachapi (4-5; 4-1 SSL) won the games they needed most, becoming the first team in the 78 year history of the program (at any level) to win a league championship with a losing record.

“Hey we’ll take it any way we can get it. Our kids learned a lot this season and learned how to play and win with Warrior pride,” added Schkade.

In the SSL clinching win over Bakersfield Christian, Trevon Harris capped the victory on the Indian’s first offensive play from scrimmage, taking a sweep 47 yards for a touchdown. Standout lineman Cameron King got the nod on the two point conversion, taking a handoff up the middle for the early 8-0 lead. The drive was set up on King’s kickoff onside recovery to start the game.

Tehachapi added on two more touchdowns in the first quarter on a Harris run and a picture-perfect 41-yard touchdown strike from Levi Garrett to Travis Farewell for a 22-0 advantage.

The insurgence by Tehachapi forced the game officials to orchestrate a running-clock in the second quarter for the remainder of the game.

Mountain Football added on two more touchdowns by Tanner Etherton on a 33-yard punt block return and a six yard run by Ricky Johnson in the fourth quarter. Dallas Scaggs converted three extra points to help pad the lead after the touchdowns.

On defense, Etherton had three tackles and two sacks, David Scarbaurough had three tackles and a sack, and Kash Knudson had four tackles. Zach Timm, Lucas Allen, and Brandon Brown all had three tackles apiece, while Jonathan Porter recovered a fumble.

“Everyone on our team got to play in the final game. It was a great end to a very tough league. Our Arvin game was our championship. Start of our year we end up losing bad to Garces and Arvin beats them a couple of weeks later,” Schkade said. “For us to go into Arvin and beat them, that said a lot. It showed how far we had come from our first week and that we had the character to beat the top team in our league.”

Making Tehachapi’s league title run even more amazing was it was done with many of the players that went 2-6 a year before in Tehachapi Youth Football, and playing seven of nine games on the road this season. Without a doubt, it was a year of ups and downs, but through it all the Indians persevered.

“Our kids learned a great deal on how to win in the Warrior program, they fought their butts off,” said Schkade. “Winning is the Warrior way. This is how we do it, and they did it. Tradition accomplished.”