Sports Radio Service


		Redwoods dominate Sentinels 24-7 By Greg Lee October 17, 2009

	San Francisco - While one California team (the MLB Angels) battled into the wee hours in the bitter cold in New York, the California Redwoods were taking care of business at another MLB park, defeating the New York Sentinel’s 24-7 for their first franchise win. The Redwoods locked-up their first home win in their first try, at the Giants’ beautiful AT&T park in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 6,341. California scored on their opening possession, on an impressive 8 play, 66 yard drive led by quarterback Mike McMahon. McMahon kept the drive alive with a 12-yard scramble on 3 and 6 and connected with Tight End Kai Brown for a 3-yard TD. Don’t panic if you don’t see Brown listed as a Tight End on your scorecard, up until the start of play Brown had the number (53) and assignment of a linebacker. The Sentinels answered in the second quarter, on Quinn Gray’s two yard pass to Barclay to cap a 14 play, 80 yard drive. The 7-7 tie would hold into the half, with the two teams playing a see-saw battle of field position that included an interception for each squad. It looked like the Redwoods were in trouble when McMahon’s threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage to open the second half. However, the ‘Woods defense held up their end of the bargain and kept New York quiet the rest of the game. McMahon and California Running Back Cory Ross dominated the second half. The Redwoods appeared to score their second touchdown when McMahon hit Doug Gabriel streaking down the sideline. Gabriel had to come back a bit for the ball, reached around a defender and dove for the goal line. Initially ruled a touchdown, a New York challenged overturned the call ruling Gabriel and the ball down at the goal line. On the very next play, Ross powered into contact at the line of scrimmage and held the ball out across the plane of the goal for the score. In the fourth quarter the Redwoods would add a Parker Douglass 42-yard field goal and John David Washington followed fullback Odie Armstrong around the left guard for another goal line score, which Ross set-up with a series of power rushes in the red zone. On the night Ross had 22 carries for 121 yards and touchdown, while McMahon went 16-29 for 145 yards, a touchdown and two picks for the Redwoods. Gray, on the other hand finished the night with similar stats going 12-25 with 115 yards, one touchdown and one interception. And the California defense held New York to only 188 total offensive yards. On Thursday, the Redwoods take on the Florida Tuskers at the Citrus Bowl.