'They proved it': Tulare Western defense stands tall in win over El Diamante

The Tulare Western High School football team rode its defense to victory on Aug. 23 at Visalia Community Stadium.

The Mustangs defeated El Diamante 8-6 behind four defensive takeaways and sealed the win by denying the Miners' two-point attempt late in the fourth quarter.

Tulare Western was led by a defense that returned eight of 11 starters from last season's team.

"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 on them, I told them, 'They have to go out and earn it.' They proved it to everyone. They played phenomenally. I couldn't ask for a better performance from them."

Senior safety Aubrey Taylor registered three interceptions, including one with 2 minutes and 13 seconds left to play in the game. He posted his first pick in the second quarter and his second takeaway ended a promising El Diamante drive near midfield just right before halftime.

Taylor, a 2023 All-West Yosemite League pick, showed Friday night why he's considered one of the top players at his position in the Central Section.

What makes Taylor stand out?

"Just the mentality," Rosa said. "When that ball goes out in the air, he thinks it's his, and tonight it was. He doesn't complain. He goes out there and he makes play after play after play."

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Taylor led a defense that limited El Diamante to just 144 yards of total offense (62 rushing, 82 passing). The Miners averaged 2.2 yards per carry on 28 attempts and only three rushing plays gained 10 yards or more.

Tulare Western's freshmen duo of quarterback Juju Hernandez and receiver Amarion Taylor put the Mustangs on top in the third quarter.

Hernandez connected with Amarion Taylor on a 38-yard pass for the team's only touchdown. Senior running back Mikey Johnson converted the two-point try and the Mustangs grabbed an 8-0 lead with 5:39 left in that quarter.

"That was awesome," Rosa said. "It's going to be good to watch them for four years but we'll take it for one game right now. They're going to be dudes, and you can see it. There's only one way to get better. We can practice, practice, practice but for those freshmen to get out here and see the varsity action, they're going to elevate so quickly."

Johnson led Tulare Western with a game-high 84 yards rushing. 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 one play — the 38-yard completion to Amarion Taylor.

"We have to get better," Aubrey Taylor said. "We have to score more points."

Tulare Western 8, El Diamante 6

TW       0          0              8         0           -              8

El D           0             0            0              6           -              6

Third quarter

TW – Amarion Taylor 38 pass from Juju Hernandez (Mikey Johnson run), :43

Fourth quarter

El D – Andrew Alvarado 2 run (run failed), 5:39

Individual statistics

RUSHING – 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.

PASSING – TW: Martinez 7-17-2 75. El Diamante: Smith 10-21-3 82.

RECEIVING – 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 cruises past Sanger West

Mission Oak traveled north to Sanger West and came home with a 31-0 non-league victory on Aug. 23 at Tom Flores Stadium.

The Hawks charged into halftime with a 21-0 lead behind a standout performance from Achilles Sierra — who scored on a two-yard run. He also fired a 76-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Jackson.

Those touchdowns were sandwiched between a one-yard quarterback sneak by Ricky Franco.

Sierra had 85 yards rushing, 76 passing and eight yards receiving in the first half. Malachi King also found the end zone on a 53-yard run.

Tulare Union dazzles in win over St. Joseph

Tulare Union quarterback Jordan Crisp accounted for four touchdowns to anchor the Tribe to a 34-21 win 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 on a rushing touchdown.

Tulare Union led 21-14 at halftime behind Crisp's first-half touchdowns to Riley and Stevenson. Rashawn Hayes opened the game with a rushing touchdown as the Tribe struck early for a 7-0 lead with 8:20 remaining in the first.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 'They proved it': Tulare Western defense stands tall in win over El Diamante