Tulare Western’s defense stands strong in win against El Diamante Football
Highlights: Tulare Western vs. El Diamante
Tulare Western defeated El Diamante 8-6 in a high school football game in Visalia on August 23, 2024.
The Tulare Western High School football team secured a victory thanks to its defense on August 23 at Visalia Community Stadium.
The Mustangs defeated El Diamante 8-6 after four defensive takeaways and sealed the win by blocking the Miners’ two-point attempt late in the fourth quarter.
Tulare Western was led by a defense that returned eight of last season’s 11 starters.
“We just had to go out and prove it,” Tulare Western head coach Derek Rosa said. “We knew we were going to be good on defense, and when I put that out there, I told them, ‘You have to go out there and earn it.’ They proved it to everybody. They played phenomenal. I couldn’t have asked for a better performance from them.”
Senior safety Aubrey Taylor recorded three interceptions, including one with 2 minutes, 13 seconds left in the game. He first intercepted the ball in the second quarter and his second takeaway ended a promising drive by El Diamante near the halfway line just before halftime.
Taylor, a 2023 All-West Yosemite League pick, showed Friday night why he is considered one of the best players at his position in the Central Section.
What sets Taylor apart?
“Just the attitude,” Rosa said. “When the ball goes in the air, he thinks it’s his, and tonight he did. He doesn’t complain. He goes out there and makes one play at a time.”
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Taylor led a defense that limited El Diamante to just 144 yards of offense (62 rushing, 82 passing). The Miners averaged 2.2 yards per carry on 28 attempts, and only three rushing plays produced 10 yards or more.
Tulare Western’s freshman duo of quarterback Juju Hernandez and receiver Amarion Taylor gave the Mustangs the lead in the third quarter.
Hernandez threw a 38-yard pass to Amarion Taylor for the team’s only touchdown. Senior running back Mikey Johnson converted the two-point attempt and the Mustangs took an 8-0 lead with 5:39 left in the quarter.
“That was awesome,” Rosa said. “It’s going to be great to watch them for four years, but now we’re doing it for one game. They’re going to be guys, and it shows. There’s only one way to get better. We can practice, practice, practice, but when these freshmen come out here and see the varsity action, they’re going to get better so fast.”
Johnson led Tulare Western with a game-high 84 rushing yards. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and was one of the reasons the Mustangs were able to move the chains.
Hernandez completed 7 of 17 attempts for 75 yards, but half of those yards came on a single play – the 38-yard pass to Amarion Taylor.
“We have to get better,” said Aubrey Taylor. “We have to score more points.”
Tulare Western 8, El Diamante 6
TW0 0 8 0 – 8
El D 0 0 0 6 – 6
Third quarter
GK – Amarion Taylor 38-Pass from Juju Hernandez (run by Mikey Johnson), :43
Fourth quarter
El D – Andrew Alvarado 2 run (run failed), 5:39
Individual statistics
RUSH – TW: Aubrey Taylor 1-6, Nando Sanchez 2-3, Mikey Johnson 16-94, Juju Hernandez 1-7, Dom Martinez 1-6, Team 2-(minus) 2. El Diamante: Edward Perez III 15-62 , Andrew Alvarado 5-7, Chris Creason 4-10, Glenn Smith 3-16, team 1-(minus) 1.
FIT – TW: Martinez 7-17-2 75. El Diamante: Smith 10-21-3 82.
RECEPTION – TW: Malachi Ficher 1-5, Taylor 2-10, Jeremiah Gomez 1-7, Johnson 2-15, Amarion Taylor 1-38. El Diamante: Creason 1-3, Logan Tavarez 3-41, Pedro Pillar III 1-12, Joseph Trevizo 3-17, Joseph Bediwi 2-9.
Mission Oak passes Sanger West
Mission Oak traveled north to Sanger West and came home with a 31-0 non-league victory at Tom Flores Stadium on August 23.
The Hawks took a 21-0 lead into halftime thanks to a standout performance from Achilles Sierra, who scored on a two-yard run and threw a 76-yard touchdown pass to AJ Jackson.
These touchdowns were sandwiched between a one-yard quarterback sneak by Ricky Franco.
Sierra rushed for 85 yards, passed for 76 yards and received eight yards in the first half. Malachi King also found the end zone with a 53-yard run.
Tulare Union shines in victory over St. Joseph
Tulare Union quarterback Jordan Crisp scored four touchdowns to lead the Tribe to a 34-21 victory over St. Joseph on Aug. 23 at Bob Mathias Stadium.
Crisp threw three touchdown passes – one each to Demaje Riley, Brayden Stevenson and Davion Williams – and also crossed the end zone with a rushing touchdown.
Tulare Union led 21-14 at halftime thanks to Crisp’s first-half touchdowns to Riley and Stevenson. Rashawn Hayes opened the game with a rushing touchdown as the Tribe struck early, taking a 7-0 lead with 8:20 left in the first quarter.
