Youth -- Tomahawks bear down on Grizzlies

Tehachapi Tomahawks bear down on Grizzlies
By: Paul Blewett
Posted by editor Tue Sep 25, 2007 13:21:25 PDT

The Tehachapi Tomahawks youth football teams swept the Arvin Grizzlies on Saturday, Sept. 22.

The Varsity, JV, and Freshmen Tomahawks moved to 3-0 in league play, after their victories over the Ridgeview Wolverines and Central Blue Dogs on the preceding Saturdays.

The Sophomore Tomahawks notched their first victory improving their record to 1-2.

Varsity Tomahawks 20 – Grizzlies 0

The Varsity Tomahawks defeated the Arvin Grizzlies this past Saturday at Benz-Visco Field logging their third shutout of the season.

The Tomahawks jumped out to a 20-0 first quarter lead and then relied on suffocating defense to put the game away against a gritty Arvin squad. On the opening kick-off, the Tomahawks nearly turned the ball over deep in their own territory, barely recovering a fumbled pitch. However, the offense covered the sixty yards to the end zone on four plays including a twenty-yard gain on a pass to the tight end to convert on a third and long, and a thirty-five yard run for a touchdown on the very next play.

After recovering the onside kick, the Tomahawks marched the ball forty-five yards to the end zone on a series of running plays out of a single-wing formation giving the Tomahawks a quick 12-0 lead. Arvin received the ensuing kick-off but the

Tehachapi defense forced the Grizzlies to punt after three plays. The Tomahawks started their third drive from their own 30-yard line and drove the 70 yards to the end zone, this time relying on their power-I formation. The drive was capped with a 15 yard run for the touchdown resulting in the 20-0 lead that would be the final score of the game. For the next three quarters, the teams battled it out in the middle of the field with hard-hitting defensive play by both teams.

JV Tomahawks 40 – Grizzlies 16

Relying on a dominant running game in Saturday’s wet conditions, the JV Tomahawks pounced on the Grizzlies early, and never let up. Jumping out to an early 16-0 lead, the Tomahawks responded to a Grizzly touchdown late in the second quarter with a touchdown of their own, scoring on a long run to the outside with only 9 seconds to play in the half. Taking a 24-8 lead into halftime, the Tomahawks picked up right where they left off as they scored again on their first possession of the second half. The Tomahawks used a time consuming, methodical drive resulting in another score giving the Tomahawks a 32-8 lead. The Grizzlies quickly answered with touchdown of their own on a long break-away run late in the third quarter. Once again, however, Tehachapi took the kick-off and ate up more time with another long drive that resulted in a touchdown yielding the final score of the game.

Sophomore Tomahawks 26 – Grizzlies 0

Freshmen Tomahawks 14 – Grizzlies 0

The Tomahawks take on the Fareast Titans at Benz-Visco Field on Sept. 29 with the Freshmen teeing it up at 10 a.m., the Sophomores at 12 noon, the JV at 2 p.m. and the Varsity at 4 p.m.. On Oct. 6, the Northwest Falcons come to town to face the Tomahawk teams at the same times.