After starting senior quarterback Kody Vasquez broke his wrist on Oct. 10 against the Tamalpais Hawks, the Giants turned to his brother Tommy in hopes of saving their season. Tommy Vasquez did just that, winning three consecutive games, all in blowout fashion, hurling Redwood into the North Coast Section (NCS) playoffs. However, with Kody Vasquez now healthy for the first round of the NCS playoffs, a dilemma fell in the hands of the Giants’ coaching staff: stick with the quarterback who led them to three consecutive wins, or bring back their year-long starter. Ultimately, Tommy Vasquez got the start, hoping to lead Redwood to their second NCS victory in program history.
The team did not come out firing as they had in their previous three games; the first two drives were three-and-outs, and then Tommy Vasquez threw an interception to cap the third drive. However, the Giants’ strong defensive performance kept the score even, stopping the potent running game of the Antioch Panthers. Senior Miles Harrison racked up eight tackles in the first quarter, and junior Ben Vaughn had five of his own.
With the earlier offensive struggles, Redwood made a quick change, replacing Tommy Vasquez with his brother Kody at quarterback. Immediately, the Giants’ offense began to hum, as Kody Vasquez completed a 49-yard pass to senior Ronan Ralston, putting them at the Panthers’ doorstep. After an incomplete pass and a tackle for a loss, Redwood faced a crucial third and twelve. Under immense pressure from the Antioch defensive line, Kody Vasquez dumped the ball off to senior running back Sean Cunneen, who found the edge and waltzed in untouched for a 19-yard touchdown.
After another strong defensive possession, forcing a three-and-out by the Panthers, Redwood had an opportunity to take a monumental lead. Cunneen took matters into his own hands, bursting free for 47 yards on the ground, putting the Giants in the red zone. On third and long, Kody Vasquez dropped back once again, this time looking for Ralston in the corner of the endzone. Blanketed by a Panthers defender, he snatched the ball out of midair, securing a 12-yard touchdown to give Redwood a 13-0 lead.
In the ensuing drive, Antioch was forced to go for it on fourth down, as they were without their punter. Harrison made another massive tackle, stopping the Panther runner short of the first down marker, giving the Giants the ball deep in Antioch territory with two minutes left in the half.
Content with staying on the ground, Redwood continued to feed Cunneen, taking the first two carries of the drive for 20 yards. Then, under heavy duress by the defensive line, Kody Vasquez rolled to his left and found Vaughn in the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown. After a successful two-point conversion, the Giants led 21-0 going into the half. However, they would be without their leading rusher, Cunneen, who sprained his ankle on his last carry of the half.
Their rushing success was not replicated in the second half, with just 24 yards on 9 carries. Both defenses bore down, and the score remained 21-0 well into the fourth quarter. However, a deep touchdown pass, a recovered onside kick and then a quick touchdown drive brought the score to 21-16 with three minutes left. After two large negative plays, the Giants were forced to punt, and Antioch had a shot to complete the comeback. They drove down the field, completing multiple long passes, until they sat at Redwood’s 35-yard line with just a minute left. But, with heavy pressure coming from the Giants’ defensive line, the Panthers’ quarterback lost the football, and senior Erik Johnson scooped it up, securing Redwood’s victory.
Kody Vasquez threw for 114 yards and three touchdowns, completing nine of 13 passes. Ralston led Redwood’s receivers with 61 yards, and Cunneen led all rushers with 80 yards.
The win for the Giants is their second victory in program history in the NCS playoffs. Redwood will take on Ukiah next weekend in the NCS semifinals, with the location and date of the game still unknown.
