In round one of the 2026 CIF Central Section Football Championship the Redwood Rangers prepare for a showdown against the Bullard Knights.

By: Jacob Serrato and Luis Flores

It’s playoff time which can only be described as the most stressful and nerve racking part of all sports. Where fans and players alike feel a sense of nervousness heading into these win or go home games. 

This Friday November 6, it’s the beginning of the first round of the 2026 Division ll CIF Central Section Football Championship. Where the visiting No. 14 seed Bullard Knights face off against the No. 3 seed Redwood Rangers at the Mineral King Bowl.

The Bullard Knights finished off the season 5-5 went 2-3 in league play, they came in after a 34-16 loss to Edison to finish the season either way they claimed the 14th seed and are fighting for a championship.

The Knights offense is primarily led by Chase Case in his first year as the full time starter the sophomore quarterback put up 1,211 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, 1 interception, .550 completion percentage, and a passer rating of  98.4. 

Although Case has missed the last three games due to an unknown injury. He is expected to return under center agianst Redwood. 

Bullard primarly is a run heavy team. Brayden Briscoe has been the main back and has racked up 885 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, while averaging 88.5 yards a game. Last week against Edison, Briscoe rushed for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns. Coming off a hot game expect Briscoe to make a splash early on.

Then there’s the receiving core which is a shadow of the run game, but  Jeremiah Cole and Clarence Phillipps iii have been the top two in the receiving game combining for 811 yards and 9 touchdowns.

The offense as a whole has been able to  manage a decent 26.8 points a game. 

Bullards defense is a different story; the team only managed 12.0 total sacks and 3 interceptions. But what makes it bad is the point given up 27.8 a game just as Bullard scores the defense gives it up and they are entering a matchup against an offensive factory

The Redwood Rangers come in finishing with a 8-2 record, going 3-2 in league play, and claimed the No. 3 seed in the playoffs and are coming off a huge 28-14 win over their rivals the Mt. Whitney Pioneers. 

In his first and only season under center Nash McElree has been amazing throwing for 2,000 yards, 18 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, completion percentage of .670, and a passer rating of 111.1.  

Qur’An Goodman has been the main back for the rangers putting up 807 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Goodman is coming off a 2 touchdown performance against Mt. Whitney.

Then there’s the receiving core led by the junior Jarius Brooks and the freshman Exavier Jackson together the duo have 1,407 receiving yards and 16 touchdonws. With Brooks averaging 75.5 yards a game and Jackson with 65.2 yards a game. The duo has been the main targets for McElree and are expected to go big in the playoffs.

The offense has been able to put up 33.9 points a game.

Then there’s  the defense. At one point this squad had only allowed four touchdowns in  just the first four games only giving up 14 points a game, but it has since gone up  to 20.4 points by the end of the season. The pass rush has been a big help racking up  33.0  total sacks  and the secondary snagging 10 interceptions. 

Round of 16 matchups:

No.1 Independence 

No. 8 Lemoore vs. No. 9 Centennial 

No. 5 Central Valley Christian vs. No. 12 San Joaquin Memorial 

No. 4 Kingsburg vs No. 13 Golden West 

No. 3 Redwood vs. No. 14 Bullard 

No. 6 Arroyo Grande vs. No. 11 Edison 

No. 7 San Luis Obismo vs. No. 10 Dinuba 

No. 2 Tulare Western vs. No. 15 Justin Garza 

The winner of Redwood vs. Bullard will play the winner of Arroyo Grande vs. Edison in the quarterfinals. 

Ladies and gentleman it’s time for some playoff football tonight. It’s the Bullard Knights and the Redwood  Rangers, the winner moves on and the loser goes home.

Jacob Serrato
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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
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Luis Flores is a sophomore 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.

 

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