TEHACHAPI NEWS -- With a berth in the league championship on the line, the Tomahawks barreled over the Garces Fighting Irish for the second time this season by a 28-14 score to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
 
With the win, Tomahawk varsity squad is the Golden Empire Youth Football League Southern Division Conference champion and will play in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
 
Tehachapi secured the win over Garces with 183 yards rushing on 35 carries, two completed passes for 72 yards and 11 total first downs.
 
Opening the game with a 16-0 lead, the Tomahawks first touchdown drive came in the first quarter, finding the endzone on four plays and ending with a 15-yard run off-tackle. The second score came on two completions of 25 and 47 yards to set up a 1 yard goal line touchdown.

After giving up a 75-yard kickoff return for a score, the Tomahawks answered immediately with only 41 seconds left in the second quarter on a 25-yard touchdown run and taking a 22-6 halftime lead.

The final Tomahawk score of the game came midway through the third quarter on a five play drive that ended on a 38-yard touchdown run. From there, the Tomahawks ran out the clock, relinquishing only one late Irish touchdown on a four yard completion late in the fourth quarter.
 
Tehachapi's defense was relentless in the game, holding Garces to only 67 yards passing on seven completions and 35 yards rushing on 24 attempts. The defense also recorded a fumble recovery and two interceptions.
 
Tehachapi's opponent this Saturday will be the Northern Division Champion Far West Freedom, the same team that Tehachapi faced in the Super Bowl in 2009. Tehachapi lost that closely contested game 18-16.
 
The Freedom clinched a championship appearance by securing a double-overtime victory over the Midwest Spartans this past weekend.

Both the Tomahawks and the Freedom come in to the league final with an undefeated 9-0 record. The game will be at 5:30 p.m. at Garces Memorial High School.