On Tuesday, November 3rd, Ranger Flag Football defeated the Santa Ynez Pirates in the Central Section semifinals 28-6, punching their ticket to the finals.

By Fabian Anguiano

The Rangers came into this game coming off two straight shutout playoff victories over Madera 36-0 and Lompoc 38-0.

The Pirates came into this game also with two straight playoff shutouts against Santa Maria 6-0 and Paso Robles 19-0.

The Rangers won the toss and deferred, giving the Pirates the first look on offense.

Quarter-By-Quarter Analysis

First Quarter

The Pirates walked out for their first drive at their own 16-yard line.

Quarterback Leighton Casey ‘27, opened up the game with a run up the middle for no gain, getting stopped by a Ranger defender. The Pirates followed up with a handoff to running back and receiver Presley Pinoli ‘27, for modest gain; a penalty on the Rangers gave the Pirates 1st and 11.

Pinoli got involved once again this time in the run game, though a handoff resulted in a dropped ball and a loss of five; Casey followed up with an incomplete pass on an attempted out route.

Now facing 3rd and long, rusher and linebacker Tori Ochoa ‘27, powered her way through defenders, sacking Casey for a loss of eight and forcing a punt.

After a modest return by Elise Trevino ‘28, a flag was thrown for defensive holding on the Pirates during the kickoff, adding 10 yards, making it 1st and 9 at the Pirate 29-yard line.

Quarterback Emma Crisp ‘29, started off the drive with a screen to receiver Adriana Soria-Rosales ‘27, for a loss of one due to a Pirate defender getting to the ball quickly.

Now facing 2nd and 10, Crisp kept it herself to the right for a gain of four, making it 3rd and six for the Rangers in enemy territory. Crisp proceeded to throw the ball right into the hands of defender Mayah Dunn ’27, trying to evade pressure, resulting in a turnover.

After the turnover, Casey’s pass to Pinoli got blown up right after the catch by a Ranger defender, bringing up 2nd and 6. Pinoli got her name called again for a gain of five, bringing up 3rd and short. Casey kept it herself for five yards, moving the chains into Ranger territory.

On 2nd and 4, after a short run by Pinoli, a pitch to Campbell McClurg ‘30, resulted in a 3rd and short at the Ranger 23. Pinoli followed up with a run for a nice gain; illegal contact committed by the Rangers added more yards after the run, getting to the Ranger five.

After a run by Casey lost a yard, McClurg got the pitch getting blown up at the line of scrimmage by a Ranger defender; Ochoa kept the defensive party going with a big-time sack, bringing up a fourth down at the Ranger 13.

Casey looked for someone down the middle of the endzone, and no receiver was in sight, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Crisp opened up the drive with a QB keeper up the middle for a gain of 17 and a first down for the Rangers; Duncan followed up with a carry for a gain of four.

On 2nd and 6, Crisp scrambled and threw a dangerous ball downfield, going through the hands of a defender, bringing up 3rd and 6. Crisp followed up with another dangerous throw that fell incomplete, bringing up 4th and 6.

This concluded the first quarter.

Second Quarter

Crisp opened up, finding Winstead picking up a first down right at midfield. Crisp followed up, finding receiver Apple Espino ‘27, for a gain of two, bringing up 3rd and 16 for the Rangers.

Crisp made another play with her legs moving to her right, moving the sticks with a 1st-and-goal. Crisp followed up by finding Duncan on a scramble, with Duncan doing the rest to get to the four.

Crisp put the exclamation point on the drive, finding Rosales for six, opening up the night’s scoring; Crisp’s pass fell incomplete on the extra point, making the score 6-0 in favor of the Rangers.

The Pirates opened up their second drive of the game with a loss of three with Ochoa stuffing Pinoli behind the line of scrimmage; Casey then found receiver Lylah Rueff ‘28, on a crosser, gaining seven yards just short of moving the chains, bringing up 3rd and 5.

Casey’s pass fell incomplete, though rusher Harlyn Kausen ’27’s, break-up included too much contact, bringing up a pass interference call giving the Pirates an automatic first down.

With a fresh set of downs, after a modest run for 24 yards, the Pirates brought up 3rd and 5; Pinoli gained just three on a carry, bringing up a 4th and 3, forcing a punt.

After a solid return by receiver Analizah Balderas ‘28, the Rangers got up to the 25, and the Rangers hopped back on offense.

Crisp opened up finding receiver Espino for a nice gain, moving the sticks for the Rangers; Crisp kept it herself on the next play, picking up the first down.

With pressure in her face, Crisp found Duncan on a short pass, and Duncan did the rest, making cuts and getting all the way to the end zone. After the extra point fell incomplete, pass interference was called, giving the Rangers another shot, and they couldn’t capitalize once again with Crisp getting sacked.

With the Pirates looking for the first points of the game, Casey got blown up behind the scrimmage for a loss of five, bringing up 2nd and 7; Pinoli tossed it to McClerg, getting just a yard, bringing up 3rd and 4.

With pressure, Casey attempted to find McClerg; the pass fell incomplete, forcing a third punt for the Pirates; the punt bounced out of bounds at the Ranger 28.

Crisp opened up, finding Ortiz for a modest gain of three or four, bringing up 2nd and 9 for the Rangers; the Pirates’ defense hardened up, allowing just a yard with Duncan attempting to get more yards after the catch.

Facing 3rd down, Crisp used her legs once again, finding space on the edge for a solid gain, moving the sticks for the Rangers.

After a solid gain of five by a Duncan catch-and-run, Crisp threw a moon ball, and Ortiz adjusted, falling to her knees as she was making the catch for a big gain and a first down inside the 10.

After a short run by Crisp and an incomplete pass that didn’t have enough juice on it, 3rd down daunted the Rangers.

After an incomplete pass floated out of the back of the end zone, the Rangers faced a crucial 4th down, and disaster struck for the Rangers as Duncan fumbled the handoff, resulting in a turnover on downs.

With seconds left in the first half, the Pirates had two runs that amounted to nothing, putting zeros on the clock.

This concluded the first half.

Third Quarter

With the Rangers getting the first look on offense, Crisp worked to her left before Dunn got to her quickly for no gain; they followed up with a modest gain by Crisp that tacked on 10 more after a holding call on the Pirates, bringing up 1st and 11 for the Rangers.

Crisp looked for Bruce on a deep corner route, which deflected off the hands of a defender and fell incomplete. Crisp followed up with a pass to Avah Winstead ‘28, for a solid gain of seven, bringing up 3rd and 4.

A pass to Espino ended up being too short, falling incomplete, bringing up 4th down. The Rangers took the gamble and came out empty-handed with the pass falling through the hands of a defender, almost being intercepted, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Casey opened up with an incomplete pass intended for Pinoli. Casey followed up, stepping up and finding receiver Hannah Ricci ‘27, for a solid gain, bringing up 3rd and manageable for the Pirates.

Casey found Ricci once again, spinning through multiple defenders and getting all the way to the three after an additional illegal contact penalty.

With 2nd and goal after a run for no gain by Casey, she redeemed herself, moving to her right untouched for six; Casey’s pass for the extra point fell incomplete, making the score 14-6.

With the Rangers back on offense, Crisp pass fell incomplete to start the drive; she then found receiver and quarterback Miranda Ortiz ‘28,  bringing up a pivotal 3rd and 4; it became 3rd and 9 after a false start called on the Rangers.

Facing 3rd and 9, Crisp hit the jackpot, finding Rosales on a deep ball, getting all the way to the Pirates’ 34 on a huge 3rd-down conversion.

After a short run and a broken-up pass, the Rangers faced a 3rd-and-12.

Ortiz threw the ball on a trick play, and it got intercepted by Ricc, though a roughing-the-passer penalty erased it, giving the Rangers an automatic first down. Crisp followed up, getting the first down with her legs all the way to the Pirates’ 19-yard line.

The Pirates’ defense hardened up with a Ranger defender getting in for a crucial sack.

On a supposed trick play, Ricci made another big play, picking off Espino on another trick play for a crucial turnover.

Casey opened up with an incomplete pass due to pressure from the Ranger defense; Pinoli responded with a carry, picking up the Pirates’ first down.

This concluded the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

With the Pirates looking for a game-tying score, Casey’s pass fell incomplete thanks to defensive pressure once again.

Casey proceeded to find Pinoli, though Kausen got to her like a missile for a loss of two; safety Jema Serrato ‘27, followed up with a huge sack on 3rd down, forcing the Pirates to punt once again.

After a great return by Trevino, the Rangers started their drive 1st and 6 at the Pirates’ 35-yard line.

Crisp found Rosales on the first play, who climbed the ladder, getting into the red zone at the Pirates’ nine-yard line.

After an incomplete pass and a pass to Duncan that just got to the line of scrimmage, the Rangers faced third down; Crisp found Balderas right at the one, bringing up 4th and inches.

On 4th down, Crisp kept it herself running up the middle for six, increasing the Rangers’ lead. After an offsides call, the two-point attempt became closer, and they took advantage, finding receiver Jaelyn Bruce ‘28, for two, making the score 20-6.

With the Pirates trying to keep their hopes alive, Serrato blew up Pinoli for a loss of five to start the drive for the Pirates.

Ochoa kept the defensive momentum going, sacking Casey for a loss of seven, bringing up a 3rd and long. Ochoa made a big play once again, forcing a loss of two and another Pirate punt.

After a punt return by Ortiz got the ball all the way to the Pirates’ 24-yard line, the Rangers hopped back on offense.

Crisp wasted no time finding Balderas downfield, who walked into the end zone for a game-clinching touchdown. Crisp got sacked on the extra point, extending the Rangers’ lead to 26-6 with little time left in the fourth quarter.

The Pirates started off with Casey attempting a pitch to Pinoli, with the ball falling to the ground for a loss of two; Casey’s pass fell incomplete after being rejected by Ortiz.

On 3rd and long, a Ranger safety blew up the run in the end zone for a safety, extending the Ranger lead to 28-6.

After a modest return by Trevino, the Rangers were back on offense. They started off with a hook-and-ladder to Crisp, making it 2nd and 1.

The Rangers picked up a first down with 20 yards gained by Rosales on a great catch-and-run.

After an incomplete pass and a sack, the Rangers faced 3rd and 11 with little time, and Crisp kneed the ball out to zeros.

This concluded the game.

With this victory, the Rangers will now face a familiar foe in Bakersfield Christian in the Central Section championship game on Thursday, November 5th in the Mineral King Bowl with kickoff being at 6 p.m.

Fabian Anguiano
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Fabian Anguiano '28,is a VERY passionate sportswriter and editor for the Redwood Gigantea. He is entering his third year with the Gigantea, and he likes motivating others and being involved in everything sports related. If you would like to reach him, just email him at [email protected]

 

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