BRAVES AND INDIANS WIN

It was a positive week all-the-way around for the Tehachapi underclassmen football teams, with both the Braves and the Indians recording victories to help Tehachapi log in a sweep of Shafter in football.

Both programs will be in action this week at home against Taft. The Indians will play on Thursday and the Braves on Friday, both with 5 p.m. start times. The public is encouraged to support the Indians this Thursday for their first home game of the season against Taft. The Tehachapi freshmen are playing at home for the first time this season after a long five game road schedule.

Junior Varsity:  Tehachapi 14, Shafter 6

There was not any let up from the big win the week before against Clovis East, with the Braves (4-3; 1-0 SSL) recording their first league win of the year in the SSL opener last Friday afternoon.

The Brave’s Jesse Olofson stole the show for a majority of the game, recording both Braves touchdowns and finishing with 15 carries and 70 yards. Olofson also registered three tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions on defense.

Zach Maravigili continued to roll on offense as well, finishing with 81 yards on 11 attempts, while quarterback Ryan Dalmas completed three passes for 42 yards. Eric Erickson also provided some sparks for Tehachapi, recording five sacks, two tackles, and a point after attempt block after the Shafter touchdown.

Luke Papac and John Cramer both finished with four tackles each, while Brennen Davis and Austin Herman both had three takedowns apiece, and Herman also recording an interception.

Freshmen:  Tehachapi 30, Shafter 6

In a 30-6 victory over Shafter last week, motivation seemed to be brimming from every player on the Mountain Football freshmen team.

The Indians sacrificed nearly every lunch break at school the past two weeks studying film on their first league opponent Shafter.

Their dedication paid off in a big way and Tehachapi recorded their first win of the season.

“This was a huge win for our football team,” said head coach Bruce Schkade. “Character showed (against Shafter). It’s tough for an 0-4 team, playing every game on the road, to keep up their motivation level. But our kids did what they needed to do. What can you say?”

Tehachapi opened up the game as a team possessed, scoring on their first three offensive drives to take a 22-0 lead. Phil Rhodes found the endzone on two red-zone drives while Trevon Harris took a speed-sweep for a five yard score.

The victory was capped in the fourth quarter by a touchdown run by Tyler Holstrom, who took a six yard run up the gut for a touchdown. It was the second consecutive game that Holstrom found the endzone, with the talented back also finding paydirt against Stockdale and adding a two-point conversion two weeks earlier.

Against Shafter, Tehachapi connected on three two-point after attempts, with Harris scoring on one try and Rhodes the other two attempts.

Overall in the game, Holstrom finished as the Indian’s top rusher with 13 carries for 75 yards, Harris had seven attempts for 62 yards, and Rhodes and Michael Lowder had 44 and 43 yards apiece.

In the passing game, Levi Garrett threw three completions for 31 yards and Nick Phillips had one completion to Tommy Freeman for 14 yards. Travis Farewell had two catches for 23 yards while Rhodes had a one reception for eight yards.

As a team, Tehachapi rushed for 241 yards, and passed for 45 yards.

“Our offense was clicking, they were a determined group,” added Schkade. “That’s what it takes; they hit and flew out there. That’s what it takes to win the SSL.”

On defense, Tehachapi recorded eight sacks, with two apiece coming from Colt Murrow and Cameron King, and the other sacks recorded by Gabe Goodwin, Tanner Etherton, Travis Farewell, and Zach Timm. Kash Knudson also recorded an interception, while the leading tacklers were King and Rhodes with four tackles each.

The Indian’s defense recorded a shutout, forcing five punts, a turnover on downs, and two turnovers. The only touchdown relinquished came on a kick-off return.