BY OCSPORTSZONE
Friday’s non-league football match-up between Woodbridge and Pacifica at University High proved to be an early season crossroad game for both squads.
After winning their season opener, the Warriors dropped their last two games and the Mariners, after winning two, lost their first game of the season last week. Both were in need of a victory to get their seasons back on track.
The Warriors (2-2) scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the first half and the Woodbridge defense tightened in the second half as the Warriors earned a hard fought 28-14 victory over No. 7 ranked Mariners.
“We’re happy, 2-2 is better than 1-3 but we still made a lot of mistakes,” said Woodbridge coach Rick Gibson. “Our big guys really stepped up big, guys like Jacob Nash, Elyjah Rush, Kyle Hurry, the Oline and the defense.”
Pacifica (2-2) took the opening kickoff and marched 62 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead. Justin Mifflin caught a 10-yard touchdown from Sean Blake to cap the scoring drive.
The Warriors special teams gave Woodbridge a boost when a high snap on a punt attempt sailed over the Mariners punters head. Warriors linebacker Max Tipple picked up the loose ball and rambled 24 yards into the end zone as Woodbridge tied the score at 7-7 with 3:22 to play in the opening quarter.
“I picked up the ball and I was gone,” said Tipple. “They call me Barry Allen, The Flash of Irvine. I knew they weren’t going to catch me.”
Early in the second quarter, Hurry used his legs and arm effectively to guide the Warriors to its second score of the evening. Several times during Woodbridge’s 10 play, 63-yard scoring drive Hurry picked up critical yards on the ground.
On a fourth down play, Hurry scrambled for 11 yards for a first down at the Pacifica 21. Two plays later he lofted a perfectly placed TD pass to Nash in the corner of the end zone giving the Warriors a 14-7 lead.
The Mariners countered and tied the score at 14 on a short TD run by Rai Sagastume later in the quarter.
However, Woodbridge rallied and added two more touchdowns before the half, one on an electrifying 51-yard TD run by Elyjah Rush and another on a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Arriel Eaves as time ran out in the half, increasing the Warriors lead to 28-14.
“I was watching their QB looking to the outside on the play before, so I had an idea where he was going to throw it,” Eaves said. “I stepped in front of the receiver, caught the ball and took off. I saw the clock ticking as I was running and my heart was beating so fast. It was crazy. It’s was my first varsity touchdown.”
Woodbridge, led by Colin Turner and Azra Aguirre, forced three first half turnovers and two more in the third quarter to foil several Pacifica drives.
“We filled in the holes tonight and really trusted each other,” said Woodbridge defensive end Colin Turner. Nash had two interceptions in the game.
Rush gained 100 yards on the ground and caught six passes to lead Woodbridge.
Mariners quarterback Sean Blake threw for 279 yards and a TD and rushed for 108 yards but it wasn’t enough for Pacifica, who dropped its second straight game.
“We knew they had skilled athletes,” said Mariners coach Vinnie Lopez. “Nash and Rush made me nervous and we knew they had a throwing QB.”
STATS
Pac 07 07 00 00 – 14
WHS 07 21 00 00 – 28
RUSHING: Pac, Sagastume 13-62, Blake 14-108
Wood, Rush 12-100, Hurry 11-41
PASSING: Pac, Blake 21-42-3, 279, 1 TD
WHS, Hurry 10-13-0, 126, 1 TD
RECEIVING: Pac, Mifflin 6-81, Leonard 4-56
WHS, Rush 6-56, Nash 2-31
