Tehachapi News

Tehachapi clinches SSL title

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In a must-win game for league supremacy and a high seed in the Central Section Division III playoffs, the Warriors came through in a big way with a 34-7 dismantling of the Arvin Bears.

Tehachapi (8-2; 4-1 SSL) secured the league championship with Wasco and Taft, who both finished the season with identical records as the Warriors.

Mountain Football cruised through most of the contest against Arvin (2-8; 1-4 SSL), attempting only two passes in the victory and registering 336 yards overall in their vaunted wing-t attack.

Jesse Olofson led the way for Tehachapi with 117 yards on 16 carries, while Max Clark churned out valuable yardage on the corners with 105 yards on nine attempts.

Both Olofson and Clark also accounted for a pair of touchdowns each to ice the win.

On defense, Drew Howell recorded an interception on Arvin’s first pass attempt of the evening, while Cory Lange had an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the second quarter to put the game away.

Other standouts on offense included Phil Rhodes, who had 73 yards on four carries, and Nick White, who had 26 yards on two handoffs in the fourth quarter.

With the regular season concluded, Tehachapi earned a no.2 seed in the playoffs, and will face no.15 Mira Monte this Friday night at home. The Lions come into the contest with a 5-5 (5-1 SCSL) record, sharing the South Central Sequoia League championship with Independence-Bakersfield this season.

The game against Mira Monte will be at Coy Burnett Field this Friday night at 7 p.m.

Freshmen Indians

The Tehachapi freshmen football team ended their season on a hard-fought loss on the road to Arvin, 12-10.

The Indians (4-6; 3-2 SSL) had strong games from Ian Neufeld, who had 48 yards on five carries, and Barry Jones, who had 39 yards rushing and a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Dalton Scaggs also had an all-around solid performance with a 30 yard field goal in the contest and a PAT after the Jones touchdown. Scaggs also had a 20 yard reception from Blake Waters and an interception and two tackles in the secondary.

On defense, Neufeld had 14 total tackles, Justin Wilson had 9 tackles, Andrew Pillar had six tackles and Andrew Garber had five tackles and a sack.

Other defensive standouts included Michael Contreras with seven tackles and a sack, Calvin Herman with three tackles and a sack, Samuel Ray with a sack, and Blake Waters, Joseph Salas and Robert Moore with solo tackles.