THS IN BLITZ BOWL VI  Louis James and AJ Meza lock horns with valley elite in all-star game

SENIOR STUDS - Tehachapi was well represented in the sixth annual Blitz Bowl at Rabobank arena. Above, AJ Meza (#54) and Louis James (#20) pose for a shot at the conclusion of the contest.  Meza helped Tehachapi with 49 tackles, six sacks, and two fumble recoveries last season, while James capped his senior season with 577 rushing yards, 136 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.

Posted 03-31-07

A former Tehachapi Tomahawk all-star was named the most valuable player, and two former Warriors represented the community in last Friday’s sixth annual Blitz Bowl at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

Louis James and AJ Meza, two Tehachapi High School seniors who were on the Mountain Football squad last fall, were selected as representatives of Tehachapi in the only national prep all-star game played in an arena football environment. Ryan Matthews, who played his high school football at West-Bakersfield and youth football for the Tehachapi Tomahawks, was named the game’s most valuable player.

“The game was a lot of fun, playing with a lot of guys from around the area,” said Louis James. “Watching the Tehachapi guys play from the other years, they were the best that there was so it’s an honor for us to be here and represent like they did.”

Ryan Matthews helped the West All-Stars with four touchdowns in an eventual 66-36 win, opening the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown. Matthews, who will be playing football next season for Fresno State, led the nation last season with 3,396 yards while also scoring 45 touchdowns.

Meza, another former Warrior playing in the contest, helped the East All-Stars gnaw at the West All-Stars lead in the third quarter when he recovered an onside kick to set up an eventual touchdown on the ensuing possession. Meza started the game on special teams, and was inserted as an offensive lineman in the first half and a defensive lineman in the second period.

“I’m not really an offensive guy, I like defense. When they put me back at d-tackle for the second half I felt comfortable, it was a lot of fun playing out there,” said AJ Meza.

Both James and Meza were instrumental cogs for the Warriors this past football season. Meza helped Tehachapi with 49 tackles, six sacks, and two fumble recoveries during the year, while James capped his senior season with 577 rushing yards, 136 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. James also had two plays for 90+ yards, making him the only player in Tehachapi history to have achieved two individual plays for 90 yards or more in the same season.

“I remember seeing the pictures on the web and the articles on the blitz bowl and thinking it would be cool if I could do that when I was a senior,” added Meza. “It’s great to get the chance and be in this atmosphere and be apart of it. They were the best of the best, and this time we got to represent Tehachapi.”

James and Meza are the ninth and tenth players for Tehachapi to be selected to play in the inaugural Kern County All-Star game. 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, Mike Faulkner and Trenton Pera in 2005, and Ralph Curiel and Mike Papac in 2006.

Both James and Meza have plans to play football next season, with James set to play for Orange Coast College and Meza Antelope Valley College.

 Despite moving on, both players will miss the prep-game that they are leaving behind.

 “I’ll miss the rivalries,” James said. “It was great playing with (the all-stars) though, we’ll miss playing high school ball.”

 Meza will remember most the atmosphere around the game.

“The togetherness of the team, the whole town coming out on Friday, I’ll miss that the most,” said Meza. “Just the atmosphere of everyone jacking us up, and the fun of playing.”

Blitz Bowl VI Video Highlights

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