First East Yosemite League game: Redwood vs. Central Valley Christian 

By: Jacob Serrato and Luis Flores

After the bye week, the Redwood Varsity football team begins its six-game stretch, starting with its first EYL game of the year against Central Valley Christian.

Six more weeks of Football: the Redwood Rangers varsity football team is back this week after a week of rest.

This Friday, September 25, they head to Central Valley Christian Stadium to take on Central Valley Christian in their first league game of the season.

Historically, these two teams have never faced each other in the regular season or the playoffs. Due to both teams being in different conferences, CVC is mainly in the Central Sequoia League, and Redwood is in the West Yosemite League. This week will mark the first varsity football matchup in the history of these high schools.

CVC has gotten off to a bad start: 0-4, only 12.5 points per game, and a defense that has allowed 30 points per game. They by far had the hardest schedule to start the year off. The four teams they played: Immanuel, Buchanan, Kingsburg, and Kerman; the combined record of those four teams is 17-2.

It only gets harder from here, facing the Number 1 defense in all of Tulare County and a high-powered offense that averages 32.5 points per game. Redwood is here to make it even harder for CVC.

Eden Calderon, ‘29, said, “I would say the biggest challenge is their defense scheme, how they like to line up and especially their D line. They like to go to a 3-man front. So It’s easier for us O linemen to work to backers and create holes for our running back.” 

For two teams that have never played each other, it’s hard to know what they’re gonna do; all you can rely on is film.

CVC relies on that 3-4 defense style. Two Defensive tackles and a Nickel tackle that bring pressure down the middle. Two outside linebackers to bring more pressure on the QB from the outside and the inside linebackers that stop inside runs and fill in gaps.

Then you have your back four, which includes two cornerbacks and two safeties to control the pass game.

Calderon said, “We’ve been emphasizing working double teams with backers and finding work in the 2nd level.”

For Redwood to be persistent and execute perfectly, they are gonna need to rely on the O-line. Redwood is a pass-first team, 206.8 passing yards a game to only 102.5 rushing yards a game. QB Nash McElree will rely on the O-line to give him time to throw to his receivers.

Ziggie Utumapu, ‘28, says, “Just shut down the run game. We know they have a good running back, so if we can make sure he doesn’t hit the ground hard, we should be fine.”

CVC, on the offensive side of the ball, is a pound-and-ground-heavy team; they love to run the ball 111.3 rushing yards a game with an average of 3.6 a carry.

CVC’s game plan is to control the clock, tire out the defense, and take the Redwood offense outta the picture and win by possession. 

But it will be relatively hard to keep Redwood outta the picture; again, this defense is number 1 in all of Tulare County, they can cause turnovers and bring the pressure from all different angles.

With an offense led by explosive pass plays and a good ol’ rush attack, this should be a fun game to watch this Friday.

One for the history books. Central Valley Christian Cavaliers and the Redwood Rangers: a new chapter of football begins.

Tags: football, gameday, gobigblue, rangers, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood sports, rhs