Two Powerhouses, One Field: Tulare Western vs. Redwood

After a wild win against Tulare Union. The Redwood Rangers prepare for their toughest matchup of the EYL season against the Tulare Western Mustangs.

By: Jacob Serrato and Luis Flores

More football is heading your way. This Friday night, a highly anticipated match is happening. The visiting Tulare Western Mustangs will take on the Redwood Rangers at the Mineral King Bowl at 7:30 pm with the yearly Pink Out game in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

 A battle of the number one offense versus the number one defense is the story of the game.

Tulare Western has been nothing but perfection; they improved to 6-0 after a blowout win against Golden West 49-13. 

They enter with the number one offense in all of Tulare County: 579.3 all-purpose yards a game, 52.1 points a game, and an average margin of victory of 28.5.

Led by a quarterback who can be described as a Dan Marino-type figure. Juju Hernandez, through six games he has 2,672 passing yards, 37 TD passes, 5 interceptions, a 70.8% completion percentage, 548.5 passing yards/game, and 445.3 total yards a game. 

By his side is a top-notch play-making receiving core: Amarion Taylor, Dom Martinez, and Landan Seechan, all combine for a total of 2,136 receiving yards and 30 total touchdowns.

Amarion Taylor, the 6’2″, 182 lb junior, has been the main target for Hernandez. 1,052 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns, and 19.1 yards averaged after the catch. He already has 11 different offers from some of the top schools in the nation. 

The run game is also a way to go, with 619 total rushing yards and an average of 103.2 yards a game. 

The speed of the receivers, Hernandez’s strong arm, and quick passing, along with a solid ground game, are what have propelled them to such an amazing start, and that makes them dangerous.

The Western defense, very overshadowed by the elite offense, has only allowed 25.8 points a game. What makes them so good is their ability to make plays to give the ball into the hands of the offense. 

The Rangers are coming off an uncomfortable win against the Tulare Union Tribe. They outlasted them 34-29, with a last-second game-winning touchdown pass to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 2019. 

They enter with the number one defense in all of Tulare County. 13.3 points given up per game, 18.0 sacks, and 8 interceptions

The secondary has been the strong suit of that ability. To start the year off, they only allowed four touchdowns in four games. The last two games have been shaky, but they have held on and have been able to limit the passing game. 

This offense is nothing to forget about, led by quarterback Nash McElree and his supporting cast in Jarius Brooks, Qur’An Goodman, Exavier Jackson, and Oliver Richardson.

The Rangers have produced 330.8 total yards/game, 35.6 points a game, 223.5 passing yards a game, 131.2 rushing yards a game, and 227.7 receiving yards a game.

They have been able to take advantage of their defense, constantly giving them so many possessions and making big plays happen whether through the air or on the ground. They can bid themselves as one of the best offensive units. 

EYL standings as of October 8th:

1. Redwood: 2-0
2. Tulare Western: 1-0
3. Central Valley Christian: 1-1
4. Hanford: 1-1
5. Tulare Union: 0-1
6. Golden West: 0-2

Redwood is at the top of the EYL with Western just right behind them. Redwood has three remaining league games while Western has four remaining. Whoever wins on Friday night can control the EYL entering this final stretch of games, but with this game of football, you never know what can happen. 

An EYL game of the year caliber. Grab your nachos, buy your tickets, and bring out that school spirit. It’s the Tulare Western Mustangs and the Redwood Rangers, a battle to remember.

Tags: football, gobigblue, Pink Out, rangers, Redwood, redwood high school, RedwoodvsWestern, rhs, sports, visalia ca