In the California Redwoods home opener tonight at AT&T Park, running back Cory Ross rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Doug Gabriel had 6 receptions for 70 yards, propelling the Redwoods to a 24-7 win over the New York Sentinels.  A complete box score can be obtained here.

Redwoods’ quarterback Mike McMahon, making his first UFL start, opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kai Brown with 9:39 remaining in the first quarter.

Sentinels’ quarterback Quinn Gray began the second quarter with a 9-yard pass to Robinson to the Redwoods’ 34-yard line.  The Sentinels continued their methodical march down the field, culminating in a 2-yard scoring toss from Gray to running back Chris Barclay, tying the game at 7-7.  A defensive struggle ensued for the reminder of the first-half, capped by defensive back Tony Tiller intercepting a McMahon pass on the Sentinels’ 5-yard line, preventing the Redwoods from a go-ahead score.

After the teams traded possessions in the third quarter, the Redwoods returned a short punt to the Sentinels’ 39-yard line.  Four plays later, the Redwoods set up their second score of the game with an acrobatic catch by Gabriel at the 1-yard line. The catch was originally ruled a touchdown, but Sentinels’ Head Coach Ted Cottrell challenged the spot of the reception, resulting in the call being overturned. The Redwoods would score on the following play with a 1-yard run over the right side by Ross.  After the score, both teams were again unable to sustain drives.

Redwoods kicker Patrick Douglass converted a 42-yard field goal for California, with 11:45 remaining in the game to push the lead to 17-7.  Head Coach Dennis Green would return to the ground game, running Ross and John David Washington, with Washington scoring his first career touchdown to close the scoring.  McMahon completed 16 of 29 for 145 passing yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.

The night began as 14-year old Thia Megia thrilled the crowd of 6,341 with an acapella version of the National Anthem.  Larry Baer, President of the San Francisco Giants, and Redwoods Honorary Captain Ariel Gariano, from the Children’s Miracle Network, performed the coin toss.  Ariel overcame Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer in the muscles and connective tissues in her head requiring intensive chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor.