Redwood Flag Football Shuts Out Madera 36-0 In Historic Playoff Game

On Tuesday, October 27th, the 1st-seeded Ranger flag football team defeated the 16th-seeded Madera in a dominant 36-0 shutout victory, marking Ranger flag football’s first-ever playoff game.

By Fabian Anguiano

Redwood came into this playoff game as the first-place team in the Central Section with almost a perfect regular season, going 17-1, with their only defeat being in their sixth game of the season against Bakersfield Christian, 24-19; they would close out the regular season with a 12-game win streak.

Madera came into this playoff game with a 10-15 record, being ranked 13th in the Central Section. The Coyotes’ season was filled with highs and lows, though they would end on a high note with a 13-6 overtime win against Madera South.

The Coyotes won the coin toss and would defer, giving the Rangers the ball to start this historic playoff game.

Quarter-by-quarter analysis 

First quarter

With the Rangers starting the ball first, they would go three-and-out after two incompletions and a lateral that went to three different players amounted to nothing; they elected to punt.

The Coyotes would begin their drive with an end-around to wide receiver Janayah Spotwood ‘29, for a gain of two.

Quarterback Gianna Ruiz ‘29, would then scramble, trying to make a play on her feet until a Ranger defender pulled her, holding her to just a one-yard gain. Ruiz would then complete a short pass to a Coyote receiver for only two yards, leaving them with fourth down; they elected to punt.

With the Rangers back on offense, quarterback Emma Crisp ‘28, started with a pass to Adriana Soria-Rosales ‘27, for a nice gain and a first down; the Rangers would then run a lateral to running back Blake Duncan ‘28, to make it 2nd and 1.

Crisp would then complete a pass to Rosales for a gain of seventeen thanks to Rosales’s yards after contact. Duncan would then take an end around to move the chains in the Red zone.

 After the Coyotes got to the ball quickly, the Rangers would face a 4th-and-goal; Crisp would scramble and sling a touchdown down the middle to wide receiver Apple Espino ‘27, who was wide open. Crisp would find wide receiver Jaelyn Bruce ’28, for the extra point, making the score 7-0 with four minutes left in the first quarter.

The Coyotes began their second possession with an explosive catch-and-run by wide receiver Chloe Bushey ‘29,  getting the Coyotes all the way to the 40-yard line. Bushey would get her name called once again, picking up a first down on a screen.

After a short run by Ruiz, Bushey picked up a gain of seven for a first down, moving the chains. The next play resulted in a sack by rusher Tori Ochoa ‘27, forcing the Coyotes to punt.

The Rangers would begin their third drive of the first quarter with a hook-and-ladder to Duncan, which got blown up right away at the line of scrimmage.

This would conclude the first quarter.

Second Quarter

With the Rangers facing a 2nd and 13, Crisp rolled out to her right and found receiver Miranda Ortiz ‘28, for a big gain, moving the sticks. The Coyotes sharpened their defense, sacking Crisp and forcing a 3rd and 9.

The Rangers converted with a catch by a wide-open Ortiz, getting into Coyote territory. They kept the momentum going with a nice catch and run by Rosales, giving the Rangers a 3rd and 1. Crisp worked to the right and gained a first down with her legs.

With the Rangers now facing a 4th and 7 inside the ten due to a short pass and a forced incompletion, Crisp faked a handoff, rolled out to her right, and found a wide-open Rosales for a touchdown. Ava Winstead ‘28, hauled in the extra point, making the score 14-0.

The Coyotes gained a big first down on the first play of their third drive with a fade pass to a wide-open receiver who was able to fight for more yards after contact.

Now facing a 3rd and 22 after pressure from the defense, free safety Jaylynn Campos ‘27, would break up a downfield pass, preventing a big play and forcing the Coyotes to punt once again.

With the Rangers back on offense, Crisp would make a house call, finding a wide-open receiver in Analizah Baldera ’28, who would take it all the way to the house for a touchdown; the extra point would be tipped by a Coyote inside the end zone and fall incomplete, making the score 20-0.

Now on their fourth drive, the Coyotes would have three straight incompletions forced by Ranger defenders, forcing the Coyotes to punt for the fourth straight time.

After the two-minute warning, the Rangers would hop back on to the field looking to add on to their lead. Crisp would begin finding Rosales for a first down, and followed up by finding Espino at the ten-yard line for a huge gain, getting into the red zone.

Now facing a 2nd and 15, Ortiz would wind up a long pass to find Espino for six, marking Espino’s second touchdown of the game. Espino hauled in the extra point, making the score 27-0 with 47 seconds left in the first half.

The Coyotes would look to put up their first points of the game with 47 seconds left in the half, but the Ranger defense would hold up and would keep the Coyotes at zero heading into halftime.

Third Quarter

With the Coyotes receiving the ball first in the second half, defensive back Camila Esquivias would get to the Ruiz just in time to force a safety, adding two points on the board for the Rangers, making the score 29-0, and giving the Rangers the ball.

The Rangers began their first drive of their second half with an explosive 16-yard run from Duncan to give the Rangers 2nd and 3. Duncan would find a hole and would turn on the jets and evade flag pulls for a lengthy housecall touchdown. Espino hauled in the extra point once again, making the score 36-0.

The Coyotes began their second drive of the half on a high note, with Bushey picking up a catch-and-run for a first down.

After getting a flag pulled behind the line of scrimmage and an incomplete pass, the Coyotes faced a 3rd and 23; they racked up only eight yards, and elected to punt on fourth down.

With the Rangers looking to add on to their lead, they would be forced to punt after a three-and-out following a few incomplete passes.

With the Coyotes still looking for their first points of the game, Bushey would be found once again for a big gain, moving the chains.

The Coyotes followed up with a pass to Guiliana Rivera ‘28, who blazed past a defender for a first down, moving the chains once again.

This would conclude the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Now in the red zone with first and goal, Ruiz would throw up the ball to the end zone on 3rd and long, and cornerback Carly Calderon ‘28, broke up the pass, forcing a fourth down. The Coyotes would decide to take a gamble on fourth down, and a Coyote receiver would get stopped at the two-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs.

With the Rangers looking to add on to their lead, the Rangers moved the ball well until facing a 4th and 7 due to an incompletion; the Rangers would elect to punt for the third time in the game.

With Madera searching to get rid of their zero on the board, after a few short passes, the Coyotes faced a 4th and 6 on the Ranger 35. Ruiz would look for a receiver on a corner route, and the ball would fly out of bounds, resulting in a turnover on downs with under three minutes left in the game.

After an illegal contact penalty following a run by Rosales, the Rangers began at the 30 for their final drive of the game, and the Coyotes picked off Crisp on the Rangers’ own side of the field with less than a minute left.

With a chance of points in sight, the Coyotes would fall unsuccessful, with the final pass falling incomplete as zeros filled the scoreboard.

The Rangers will now move on to the round of eight and will face Lampoc on Thursday, October 27th in the Mineral King Bowl with kickoff being at 6 p.m.

Tags: #redwood athletics, flag football, Gigantea athletics, redwood athletes, sports, visalia ca