Although the Central Coast Barnstormers beat the Richmond War
Angels in the opening game of the season, the teams still wanted a
rematch to decide who the true champion was.
By Greg Chapman
Staff Writer
Los Altos Hills, Calif. – Although the Central Coast Barnstormers beat the Richmond War Angels in the opening game of the season, the teams still wanted a rematch to decide who the true champion was.
The Barnstormers became the two-time champions of the Northern California Amateur Football Federation Championship (NCAFF) with a 21-20 win Saturday at Foothill College.
Last season, the two teams were undefeated at 10-0 coming into the championship game, but the War Angels didn’t get to play in the game because of an illegal roster, so the Barnstormers faced the runner-up instead.
“We wanted to play them, [but] it wasn’t in our control,” Jose Rodriguez, owner of the Barnstormers said. “We just wanted to play football.”
The two teams faced each other in the first game of the regular season and after the Barnstormers came out on top 17-14 in overtime, Rodriguez said he thought it would settle everything. But it had little meaning so early in the season.
“It led up to all the hype. It was a very physical game,” Rodriguez said. “Somebody had to lose. We’re just glad we came out on top.”
The Barnstormers went undefeated in their only two years of existence in the league, with a record of 22-0. Their only loss last year came in the state championship game.
“Nobody has beaten us in this league. Not too many teams can say that,” Rodriguez said.
On Saturday, the Barnstormers won the game with defense in a tight battle that went back and forth between the two rivals.
The War Angels struck first, taking an early 7-0 lead in the game, but didn’t score again until the second half.
At halftime the Barnstormers held a 14-7 lead on touchdowns by Rigo Munoz and David Carriedo.
In the first quarter, Munoz tied the game 7-7, catching a 10-yard pass from quarterback Brian Smith and running it in for the score.
Six yards out from the goal in the second quarter, David Carriedo took a toss to left and found the end zone.
The War Angels tied the game 14-14 in the second half. But the Barnstormers defense, which had been stingy all game forcing four turnovers and holding the opposition twice at their five-yard line on two of those four turnovers, prevailed.
“Our defense did their job and pretty much we owe our season to them,” Rodriguez said.
Early in the fourth quarter Carriedo, the Barnstormers utility player who plays both sides of the ball, came through tremendously for the team on the defensive side, intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown to give the Barnstormers a 21-14 lead.
With a little over three minutes left in the game, the War Angels responded with a touchdown, but the game-changing play occurred on the extra point.
The War Angels got two chances to tie the game because of a roughing-the-kicker penalty on the first attempt, however the Barnstormers made sure they didn’t touch the kicker on the second try, just the ball, blocking the point after to remain on top 21-20.
Carriedo’s big game continued when the Barnstormers took back possession of the ball, breaking off a 20-yard run that sealed the game, as the Barnstormers ran out the clock.
“He [Carriedo] comes in at the right time when we need a little fire,” Rodriguez said.
After winning the championship, the Barnstormers finish the season as the undisputed champions, defeating the team that was supposed to be in the championship this time around.
“It feels pretty good, definitely feels better than the first,” Rodriguez said.
