On Oct. 10, the highly anticipated rivalry football game against Tamalpais (Tam) took place at Redwood’s home field with an unusual Thursday kickoff at 4 p.m. The varsity football teams faced off in a thrilling match, with the Red-Tailed Hawks pulling ahead just before halftime. Both teams, determined to claim victory in this long-standing rivalry, showcased impressive plays, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Tam took an early lead with a safety, then scored the first touchdown of the game, leaving the score 10-0 following a successful two-point conversion. Redwood’s defense struggled to contain Tam’s offense during the opening plays, but the momentum quickly shifted as senior Ashlin Quach returned a 97-yard kickoff for a touchdown. This game-changing moment ignited the Redwood fans as their team was back in the game.
The momentum continued with an interception from senior Ronan Ralston midway through the second quarter before junior kicker William Suko impressively drove a 38-yard field goal through the uprights. This feat tied the game at 10-10 with three minutes left in the half.
However, in the short time that remained, determined to put up a good fight, junior Tam wide receiver Timo Ural made a huge catch, putting the Red-Tailed Hawks in the red zone. On fourth down a few plays later, they pitched the ball to the running back, who then threw a touchdown to a wide receiver on the trick play. With Ural’s efforts, the half ended with Tam leading 16-10, putting Redwood behind as they entered the second half.
The Giants started with the football in the second half, but nothing seemed to work offensively. Both teams threw an interception, yet neither team could capitalize off these crucial mistakes. The game stayed stagnant until late in the fourth quarter when the Giants needed a deciding stop. The defense was penetrated by the Tam running game, who drained the clock down and eventually kicked a game-clinching field goal to push their lead to 19-10. The Giants got the ball back with minimal time, and the clock quickly expired. Their next game will be away against Napa, on Oct. 18th.
