Redwood uses speed and experience to beat Napa in inaugural flag football contest

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By Kyle Foster

Kfost91197@gmail.com 

Twitter/X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews

There are times when you start something new where experience and speed are going to win out no matter what you do. 

On Saturday night at Memorial Stadium, this was the case as Redwood-Larkspur beat Napa, 33-0, in the first-ever game in program history for the hosts. 

The Giants (3-2) took the lead when Annaliese Pyle found Isabel Hobson for an 8-yard touchdown. Pyle found Emma Stein for the one-point conversion. This came with 5:33 left in the first. 

In the second quarter, Hobson picked off a pass and returned it to the end zone for a 2-yard return touchdown. Rayne Meyer caught the extra point from Pyle to extend the lead to 14-0. 

Unfortunately for Napa (0-1), interceptions were a theme of the night. The Giants’ speed was a problem, and they were able to get into passing lanes as well. 

“Their intensity and their speed,” Napa High head coach Nila DeLuna said. “They got speed over there. They got the intensity, and they also have the height.” 

Redwood also scored on another pick-six when Reera Sebti scored from 35 yards out with 7:05 left in the third. 

Pyle found the end zone again on a one-yard quarterback keeper up the middle with 5:43 left in the opening half.    

To end the first half, the Giants scored once more on a Pyle 25-yard connection with Guo Ting Tseng.

In the game, Pyle threw a pair of touchdowns while completing 8 of 13 passes for 76 yards. She also carried the ball 4 times for 34 yards and a rushing touchdown.   

While the result certainly wasn’t one that the Grizzlies wanted, all wasn’t lost. Later in the game, they were able to get a few turnovers on downs.    

“This is their first game,” DeLuna added. “This was their first game against a team that is really experienced. So it’s like again they did good in my eyes. Obviously, I know they can do way better. It’s just again they’re still learning, but just executing stuff. That’s all they really need to do. But I know they got it.” 

But more than anything, the difference in the game was just straight-up experience. Though the Giants have been around for just one season prior, they were appearing as if they had been playing the new game for years. 

“I think a lot because my girls are still learning the rules, still learning how to function around the rules,” DeLuna explained of the importance of experience. “It’s still a lot for them to be learning in in a little bit of time, so it’s it’s they’re getting there, but obviously it’s a big difference between already knowing and playing together. You have that chemistry; they’re still building it, so just gonna keep going though.” 

Napa will now have a day off before starting Vine Valley Athletic League play at home on Monday at 7 pm against Casa Grande.