SUMMERVILLE, Calif. — The Reds faced a challenging matchup on Friday, November 15th, as they traveled to Summerville for the second round of playoffs. Summerville, a top-ranked team in the division, posed a formidable opponent, but the Reds were determined to give their best effort despite the long journey.
Gustine fell to Summerville, 56-0.
"I was very proud of my seniors, and my team, for stepping up to play a team that is much bigger than us. They never quit the entire game. I was happy my boys had the opportunity to play in the second round of playoffs, this team had the biggest bond as a team they truly cared for each other," Coach Collin Lane stated.
The game began with promise for the Reds, who controlled the entire first quarter with their opening drive. "We were running well. When we didn’t score, it took the life out of us and we were never able to recover," Coach Lane added.
The Bears capitalized on the loss of spirit and started their scoring run in the second quarter, racking up five touchdowns in that quarter alone.
Throughout the season, the Reds contended with numerous injuries, leaving them with just 14 players, including three sophomores. Despite these challenges, they consistently found ways to compete. However, their playoff run came to an end with a 56-0 loss to Summerville.
"I was very pleased with how our season finished. We started off strong, but then we went through a ton of adversity with injuries. A lot of younger players stepped up, and they helped save the season. They easily could have quit, but they figured out a way to work together and win a playoff game," Coach Lane reflected.
Looking ahead, Coach Lane is already preparing for the next season, focusing on building a new group of players. The Reds will be retiring six seniors. "As a football program, we will continue to keep the players in the weight room all year. We will then go to our football camp in May, which I feel truly strengthened the bond of our team this past year and helped them to push through adversity," Lane stated.
