After a 3-game road trip, the Rangers return home for the annual Homecoming football game against Tulare Union.
By Jacob Serrato and Luis Flores
After a three-game road trip, the Rangers are back home. This week marks the annual Homecoming football game the visiting Tulare Union Tribe will take on the Redwood Rangers this Friday, October 2, at 7:30 pm at the Mineral King Bowl.
Since the year 2000, these two schools have had 21 matchups, with Union holding a 12-9 lead in the series matchups. The past two seasons, Union has gotten the best of the Rangers with back-to-back wins; Redwood will look to get their revenge this Friday night.
Redwood comes in after another dominant win. Against Central Valley Christian, the Rangers orchestrated a 50-23 win that was never close.
The dual-threat ability on offense was on point: 209 total passing yards to 208 rushing yards and a combined 6 total touchdowns closed the game.
Redwood has stayed very consistent with a 5-0 record, 389 all-purpose yards a game, 207.2 passing yards a game, and 123.6 rushing yards a game.
Redwood still relies on that pass-first offense, but after the performance last Friday night from the ground game, we can definitely see the Rangers running the ball more throughout the game to stay ahead and take full control.
The Redwood defense is still on top as the number one defense in all of Tulare County, 15.0 sacks and 8 interceptions; they will be tasked with limiting Union’s offensive ability.
Tulare Union last Friday night struggled against Bakersfield Christian; they were held scoreless till the fourth quarter, not being able to get their offense going. The game ended with a 28-6 loss.
Tulare Union had started off the season promising, with a 2-1 record, but dropped the last two games, sitting at 2-3.
Union has produced a solid team averaging 307.7 all-purpose yards a game, 30.2 points a game, and an offense that can go either way when it comes to the passing and running game. 172.7 passing yards a game to 127.7 rushing yards a game.
Tulare Union’s defense has given up 25.8 points a game. They have given up 77 total points in the last two games, not being able to get off of the field.
The inconsistency on offense and the overload on defense might affect how they play against the red-hot Redwood Rangers.
Union is aiming to better their record, earn their first league win, but at the same time beat Redwood for the third straight year in a row.
While the Rangers look to avoid the three-game losing streak and improve to 6-0 in hopes of staying in competition with the other undefeated teams in the East Yosemite League, being Hanford and Tulare Western.
What should be a fun, exciting game tonight at the Mineral King Bowl. Redwood and Tulare Union will have another battle to add to the history books.
Jacob Serrato
Jacob Serrato is a senior and first year sports writer for the Redwood Gigantea, he is beyond thrilled to be apart of the Gigantea and to cover Redwood sports all year long.
Luis Flores
Luis Flores is a freshman that is apart of Redwood Gigantea, he loves to write about sports topics and can't wait to write plenty of stories and cover every sport of Redwood.
