The Vallejo Redhawks concluded their regular season with an impressive 37-20 victory over the Saint Mary”s Panthers on Senior Night. This win brought their overall record to 7-3 and 3-2 in the Tri-County Rock League.
Despite battling through a dislocated finger, senior defensive tackle Llogan Franklin was determined to make his Senior Night memorable. After getting his finger taped, he returned to the field and recorded two sacks, contributing to a defensive effort that sacked Saint Mary”s quarterback Sutton Ralls seven times.
“I just got it put back in and all taped up,” Franklin said. “It”s probably gonna hurt when I get home.”
Fellow senior Vernus Ragsdale also played through injury, posting a season-high four sacks, including one that resulted in a safety. “I pushed through it because I had to help my teammates,” Ragsdale stated. “My strength, my skills, and my speed, that”s what really helped me tonight.”
Following the victory, head coach Mike Wilson III praised his team for their hard work throughout the season. “We didn”t have a lot coming back,” Wilson remarked. “We had to put the pieces together, and they came together all summer, worked hard, became a team, so I”m really pleased with this.”
Franklin expressed the significance of finishing his high school career with a win at Corbus Field. “I finished out with my teammates, people I”ve played with since my freshman year,” he shared. “I”m not gonna lie, I cried at halftime because I didn”t even realize how much it meant to me.”
Wilson is optimistic about the team”s chances for a spot in the North Coast Section playoffs, awaiting confirmation when the brackets are released. “I think our resume is good enough to get in,” he said.
In a game that celebrated the senior players, it was sophomore quarterback Julio Ramirez who initiated the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns, both thrown to junior Marquise Collier. Collier”s first touchdown catch was a 33-yard reception, followed by a 31-yard tackle-breaking catch-and-run.
“I promised myself, my quarterback, my teammates that I was just gonna go off this game,” Collier said. “It was Senior Night, most of my friends, my brothers, I might never play another game with them. So I just wanted to make a statement.”
Senior Elijah Peace also made a significant impact with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown, extending the Redhawks” lead to 20-6 at halftime. Although the Panthers, who ended the season with a 1-7 record, fought back to close the gap to 20-13 and later 29-20, Collier”s touchdown reception revived the Redhawks” momentum.
“That was big to get the momentum back,” Wilson commented. “He didn”t play a particularly good first half, but he came back in the second half, got his head in there, and made some big catches.”
The game slowed down in the fourth quarter, largely due to an extended drive by Saint Mary”s, which was marred by seven penalties, four of which were against Vallejo. Nevertheless, the Redhawks held strong, stopping Wyatt Swanson short on a crucial fourth-and-goal attempt.
Running backs Carlisto Valetino and Alonzo Saunders helped secure the victory, with Valetino leading the team with 67 rushing yards and a touchdown on ten carries. “Going into the playoffs, I just want me, Julio, and the wide receiver room to be more consistent,” Collier noted. “The chemistry has gotten better and better throughout the season. I just want us to be way more consistent in the playoffs.”
