Gallery • 13 Photos

Henry Barker

A Gaucho offensive lineman attempts to block senior Ashlin Quach (2) on a screen pass.

The halftime Homecoming ceremony and performance from the band were just about all Redwood fans could cheer for on Saturday. From the very first drive, The Casa Grande Gauchos set the tone, going 75 yards on 10 plays before senior quarterback Danny Mercado threw a three-yard touchdown.
Offensively, the Giants struggled to move the ball down the field, stifled by the Gauchos’ six-man pressure. Casa Grande consistently blitzed their linebackers, forcing Redwood to get the ball out quickly and win one-on-one matchups on the outside. In the entirety of the first half, the Giants eclipsed just two first downs, while the Gauchos had 13.
However, a strong defensive performance kept Redwood in the game for at least the first half, limiting Casa Grande to 13 points. Senior Miles Harrison racked up 15 tackles, impeding Mercado’s rushing ability and showcasing strong pass coverage.
As the clock ticked down on the first half, the defense continued to do all they could, as senior Ronan Ralston scooped up a fumble, giving Redwood hope to make it a one-possession game entering halftime. But, a quick three-and-out curbed these hopes, sending the Giants back to the locker room down 13-0.
Halftime was extended to make time for Homecoming ceremonies; the court walked onto the red carpet laid on the field, their accomplishments were announced and the winner was crowned. This year’s Homecoming “royalty” was senior Elon Harris, an aspiring poet and author from Tiburon. As Redwood’s stellar seniors walked off the field, the football team returned for the second half.
Trying to adjust to the Gaucho pressure, Redwood started to get the ball out quickly through screen passes and shorter routes. Yet, in the second half, penalties and dropped passes hindered the Giants, leading their quick game to be ineffective.
Content on draining the clock and holding their lead, Casa Grande put the ball on the ground heavily in the second half. With the intense heat bearing on Larkspur, as temperatures reached 98 degrees, Redwood’s defense tired in the second half and the Gauchos put up 21 points.
The game’s story can be told by the first-down and yardage totals; the Giants gained just four first-downs and 70 yards, while Casa Grande secured 23 first-downs and 398 yards. Redwood falls to 3-3 overall, with a 1-1 record in the Redwood Empire-Valley League.
Next week, they’ll host rival Tamalpais on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.