OGILVIE BOWL CHAMPS  Tehachapi takes care of business in opening game victory

HISTORIC MEETING - The rivalry has always been there...but now it's official.  The Warriors win the first Coach Ogilvie trophy between the two schools, fittingly the series is now tied 16-16-2 all time.

Posted 08-25-07

TEHACHAPI NEWS - For Mountain Football followers, there is a lot of history on Garces’ Sam Tobias Field. Some memories are good and others not so good.

Last Friday will serve as one of the good memories.

For the parents, fans, and players that made the trip to Bakersfield, a standing-room only crowd witnessed Tehachapi win the inaugural Coach Ogilvie Trophy after a 28-13 win over Garces.

The Warriors (1-0) notched the victory with a balanced attack that laced in big play scores over the defending CIF Division III champions.

“This game is a part of tradition and a part of history and the kids made their point in that (last Friday),” said Warrior head coach Steve Denman. “The kids can go away knowing that they won the first Ogilvie Bowl. That’s a big thing.”

Tehachapi made the most of the initial game disadvantage of playing on the road, opening up the contest with a quick 13-0 lead after their first two offensive drives went for scores.

“As players were a brotherhood, we all work together and we all have each others back, that’s how we pulled this one out,” said Alek Taliulu. “It felt good to get the early start.”

Taliulu capped an impressive, 12 play drive to open up the game with a two yard run up the gut to put Tehachapi up 7-0. The drive was set up off a long run play by Josh Strauss, who rumbled 54 yards to the red zone to set up Taliulu’s forth-and-goal belly plunge for a score.

The Warriors struck paydirt again after a Garrett Coontz interception on the Rams next series on offense. Adam Mullen scored his first varsity level touchdown on a three yard run with just over a minute left in the first quarter.

Halftime looming, and the Rams deep in their own territory, a big momentum shift in the game transpired when Garces elected to try and move the ball up the field rather than run out the clock and head to the lockerroom.  The decision proved to be detrimental, with Tehachapi’s Louie Olofson recovering a fumble with four seconds remaining in the second quarter, setting up one final play for the Warriors at the Garces 21-yard line.

Ehren Ochsenrider and the Tehachapi offense took the field, and the Warrior quarterback found an open Franky Rodriguez near the goal line. The route was run to perfection, with two Warriors entangled in route patterns and Ochsenrider targeting the open man.

Rodriguez did the rest, steamrolling over a Garces defensive back to open up a two-touchdown lead with no time left on the clock.

“I was actually held as I was running my route, and I just saw the ball in the air and I just jumped up and leaped for it,” said Rodriguez. “We were chanting and screaming going into the lockerroom after that one, it was fun.”

After Rodriguez’s score, Ochsenrider found a wide-open Shawn Pimentel in the back of the endzone for a successful two point pass conversion and a 21-7 lead.

“Franky just made a great athletic move out there,” said Denman. “It was tremendous, he just snagged the ball out of the air and had the fortitude to land and make it across the goal line and step out of bounds. That’s just Franky.”

In the second half, Ochsenrider sealed the game when he found a wide-open Josh Strauss in the flat for an eventual 23-yard touchdown. After the successful PAT, Tehachapi coasted the rest of the way for the 28-13 win and the Ogilvie cup.

Overall in the game, Tehachapi amassed either a touchdown or first down on four separate occasions in fourth down situations. Josh Strauss finished with 12 carries for 99 yards, while Adam Mullen had 16 carries for 85 yards. Ochsenrider had a brilliant game at quarterback, going 6-10 for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Alek Taliulu and Derek Lange led the Warrior defense with seven tackles each, while Garrett Coontz had five tackles and a pick, Marcus Abarquez three tackles and a sack, and Louie Olofson and Jonathan Perrien four tackles apiece.

 “It’s nice to have a trophy for football, we haven’t gotten one in a while,” said Josh Strauss. “We work as a team and we all have the same purpose, it was a good win.”

SSL Scores – Week 1

Tehachapi 28, Garces 13

Taft 19, Foothill 7

Highland-Bakersfield 24, Arvin 6

Hit and Fly!

MOUNTAIN MEDIA VIDEO Game-By-Game Video Highlights

	COACH OGILVIE HONORED For Tehachapi and Garces, he is considered the founder and pioneer of two storied programs. Appropriately for the man that helped build two dynasties, Coach Gary Ogilvie was honored in pre-game festivities and a halftime trophy inception for his tireless work that helped build Tehachapi and Garces into football powerhouses. The Coach Gary Ogilvie trophy will now be a centerpiece between the Warriors and the Rams, with the victor each football season having the distinction of keeping the traveling trophy at their school for the year. “Tehachapi and Garces are two schools with a great, great tradition. A tremendous tradition.” said Gary Ogilvie at the game. “In 50 years Tehachapi has had only six losing seasons. That comes from the community, teacher support, coaching on a good level, and dedicated athletes. That’s what (Tehachapi) has.” For the Warriors, Ogilvie compiled a 42-5 record has head coach in seven seasons from 1971-1981, going to the CIF playoffs every year, winning four Desert-Inyo League titles and a 13-0 CIF Championship in 1980. “Coach Ogilvie was a successful and respected to the max at both schools,” said current Warrior head coach Steve Denman. “It’s an honor to receive a trophy like this that honors him. For me personally I consider him a second father.” At Garces High School from 1964-1969, Ogilvie had a 34-21-4 record as a head coach, winning several SSL championships. Ogilvie was also a standout player for the Rams, serving as quarterback for Garces in a valley championship year in 1953. “This game and Coach Ogilvie, that’s what this whole things about,” added Denman. “(Ogilvie) has had so many ties between Tehachapi and Garces and we had such a rivalry the last 50 years, and now he’s a big part of that and deservedly so.” Coach Gary Ogilvie and the Tehachapi vs. Garces game will now forever-more be intertwined. “While I was at Tehachapi, Corky Roberts and Frank Crumpaker were a big influence in my life and coaching,” added Ogilvie. “It’s an honor to have my name on the trophy but men (Garces and Tehachapi players) this is really your trophy. When you play, there are no winners or losers.”
	This Wednesday, Aug-29 the Booster Club will hold a first-annual fall-season kick-off dinner at the THS cafeteria. Cost of the meal will be $10, and will include a steak-dinner with all the trimmings. This dinner will also be the selection of the “green seats” at football games (seats from the 35 yard-line in). If there are any Mountain Football fans interested in reserving their season-seats please make sure and attend!  Annual Warrior Booster membership will also be available, which is $35 and includes a complementary 2007-2008 season t-shirt and hat. Meet the Warriors night for high school volleyball, girls tennis, flag team, and cross country will be held next Wednesday (Sep-5) at the THS cafeteria at 6 p.m. On the menu is the Warriors Booster’s world famous barbeque chicken with the bargain price of $10 a plate. Parents and fans in the community are encouraged to attend the event. No RSVP is necessary. All proceeds  will benefit Tehachapi High School athletics. For information on these events or any other Booster Club inquiries, contact President Chuck Hansen at 823-9870 or hansen587@sbcglobal.net.
	Tehachapi will be flooding the air-waves again this season against Stockdale on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.  KERN Radio 1410 will be broadcasting the game live, with play-by-play announcer and Tehachapi Warrior Alumni Corey Costelloe calling the action. To tune in to Kern 1410 from the internet, log onto http://www.kernradio.com/
	Be sure to tune in frequently to get the latest new, highlights, and commentary!  Be sure to check out the Central Valley Sports chat room forum at some point this year...and don't forget to follow statistical highlights on all Warrior sports on maxpreps.  On maxpreps, a link to each Tehachapi sport can be found by scrolling on the left-hand side of the page.  Thanks to all of you for logging in and supporting Tehachapi High School Warrior athletics!