FOOTBALL ROUNDUP:  Indians all alone in first place in SSL

TEHACHAPI NEWS - The Tehachapi freshman football team had another dominating performance this past week, while the junior varsity Braves had a great start in their contest before falling to an inspired second-half effort by Arvin.

Both programs will be in action this week on the road against Wasco. The Indians will play on Thursday and the Braves on Friday, both with 5 p.m. start times.

Junior Varsity:  Arvin 20, Tehachapi 14

Nick Howell helped Tehachapi (1-2 SSL) score on their first offensive possession on an 18-yard touchdown run and Jesse Olofson added another 1-yard score in the second quarter, but the 14-0 halftime lead fell last Friday afternoon after Arvin (1-2 SSL) scored 20 unanswered points in the second half.

Tehachapi’s Chris Rush completed five passes for 92 yards, hitting Zach Maravigli for two completions for 37 yards. Maravigli also led the Braves in rushing with 53 yards on six carries, while Olofson had 46 yards on 15 attempts and Howell 42 yards on six touches.

Dougan Patience led Mountain Football’s defense with six tackles, followed by John Cramer and Eric Erickson with five tackles each. Brennen Davis, Nick Howell, Luke Papac, Niko Taliulu, and Matt Santos all recorded four tackles. Patience also had two sacks, Santos one sack, and Erickson a fumble recovery.

Freshmen:  Tehachapi 21, Arvin 6

Just when you thought that the Tehachapi freshman football team was at their peak, the tenacious Indians keep climbing.

After an 0-4 start to the season, Mountain Football has been on a mission terrorizing the South Sequoia League, with their latest victim the previously league-undefeated Arvin Bears in a 21-6 victory.

The game onset was a defensive slugfest for both teams, with Tehachapi (3-0 SSL) forced to give up their first two possessions on turnover on downs after field position deep in Bear territory.

Defensively, the Indians were dominant at the line of scrimmage, neutralizing the running threat of Arvin (2-1 SSL) in two fumble recoveries and a turnover on downs on the Bear’s first three possessions.

The game tide turned in Tehachapi’s favor when a fumble recovery by Dustin Brown late in the first quarter helped the Indians take possession in the red-zone for a third-straight trip, this time on the Arvin 11-yard line.

Facing a fourth and goal at the five, Tehachapi quarterback Levi Garrett rolled out to find an open Tyler Holstrom, who dove for the goal line to help the Indian’s draw first blood on the scoreboard, 6-0.

Arvin answered the score late in the third quarter on a fourth and 10 31-yard touchdown reception, but Tehachapi blocked the extra point to keep the score knotted at 6-6.

The Indians, who have been primarily a running team all year against their opposition, showed their versatility in the fourth quarter when a go-ahead touchdown reception by Phil Rhodes all but iced the game.  The score was set up by a Holstrom fourth and one up-the-gut rumble to the Arvin 12-yard line, with Garrett finding Rhodes two plays later for the touchdown on a 10-yard pass completion.

Trevon Harris ran in the two point conversion to put Tehachapi up 14-6 and later added on an exclamation score with just over three minutes remaining in the contest on a 24-yard counter run.

Dallas Scaggs added on the PAT for the final 21-6 game count. 

Tyler Holstrom led the Indian offense with 41 yards on 11 carries, followed by Michael Lowder with 29 yards rushing and Trevon Harris 26 yards on the ground. Levi Garrett shined in the passing game, going 6-9 for 65 yards and two touchdowns, with his primary target Trevon Harris with three completions for 47 yards.

On defense, Tehachapi flexed their muscle all game long, with Dustin Brown finishing with nine tackles, Gabe Goodwin eight tackles and three sacks, and Trevon Harris, Kash Knudson, Cameron King, Tanner Etherton, Travis Farewell , Brandon Brown, Michael Lowder, Phil Rhodes, Colt Murrow, Zach Timm, and Andres Meza all finishing with multiple tackle nights.