Dropped passes too much to overcome

By DAVID DELGADO

FOR OCVARSITY.COM

NEWPORT BEACH - Corona del Mar came into Friday night’s Pacific Coast League contest knowing a victory would clinch at least a share of the league title.
The Sea Kings, led by receiver Troy Reese, overcame a slow start to earn the league championship and defeat Woodbridge, 33-16, at Newport Harbor High.
Reese, who caught seven passes for 176 yards and pair of second-half scores, was Cayman Carter’s biggest and most efficient target, as the two were seemingly playing catch throughout the game.
Both teams struggled to maintain offensive rhythm during the opening quarter, and each team was only able to muster enough yardage for field goals.
Woodbridge opened the scoring when Donald Jackson kicked a 32-yard field goal, and Corona del Mar’s Grif Amies split the uprights twice in the second quarter, including a 40-yarder that gave the Sea Kings a 6-3 halftime lead.
Corona del Mar (7-2, 4-0) scored the first touchdown of the game after halftime, when Carter hit Reese for a 34-yard touchdown. On Corona del Mar’s next series, Carter marched the Sea Kings downfield and snuck it in from the 2, extending their lead to 19-3.
The Warriors (4-5, 2-2) responded with a drive of their own that culminated when Matt Callahan avoided the pass rush on fourth-and-6 and found Philip Hong alone in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown. However, the 2-point conversion failed.
Corona del Mar put the game out of reach on the first play of the final quarter, when Carter hit the outstretched arms of Reese for a spectacular 31-yard fingertip grab.
The Sea Kings hold a two-game league lead with one game remaining.

Warriors Offensive line dominates

DeFreitas leads Woodbridge past University

 

October 20, 2012 12:43 AM

By TIM BURT

OCVARSITY.COM

 

IRVINE – Woodbridge coach Rick Gibson had been looking for a solid four-quarter performance from his team all season.
Friday night, Gibson got one. He watched his Warriors defeat University, 38-7, in a Pacific Coast League game at Irvine High.
"It was a total game for four quarters, and that's the first time all year," Gibson said. "I'm proud of the kids."

Running back Austin DeFreitas had another big night for the Warriors, rushing for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Matt Callahan was also solid for Woodbridge, throwing three touchdown passes and compiling 174 yards through the air.
"Our O-line came out and did big things," Callahan said. "All over the board, they just dominated and everyone played well. The defense shut them out in the second half, and our receivers made big plays."
Woodbridge (4-4, 2-1) set the tone on the first play from scrimmage when Callahan connected with DeFreitas on a 53-yard pass play, moving the ball to the University 5-yard line.
Two plays later, DeFreitas ran over from 2 yards out to put the Warriors ahead, 7-0.
Callahan hit Zach Kennedy on a 40-yard TD pass later in the quarter to give Woodbridge a 14-0 lead.
University (2-5-1, 0-3) got back into the game when quarterback Connor Martin connected with Keyvan Aminzadeh on a 16-yard TD pass with 3:26 left in the first quarter.
But Callahan hooked up with David McCutchan on a 25-yard TD pass with 10:50 remaining in the first half to put the Warriors ahead, 21-7.
DeFreitas had a 4-yard TD run and Donald Jackson kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give Woodbridge a 31-7 lead at halftime.
Callahan hit McCutchan on a 15-yard TD pass with 7:04 left in the third quarter to put Woodbridge ahead, 38-7.

Strong Defensive and Offensive effort pave the way for a win

Woodbridge, DeFreitas hold off Beckman

October 13, 2012 12:53 AM

By BRENT SHAVER

FOR OCVARSITY.COM

TUSTIN - Woodbridge saved its season and showed it can still be a force in the Pacific Coast League with a 24-16 victory over Beckman on Friday night at Tustin High. Woodbridge, the pick to win the league at the start of the year, had lost four games in a row.
“We told them this was do or die,” Woodbridge coach Rick Gibson said. “We just hadn’t been playing very well. It was time to step up and do what we needed to do. The kids played really hard.”

Woodbridge (3-4, 1-1) was ready from the start. The Warriors scored three touchdowns, all on runs by Austin DeFreitas, and racked up 275 yards of offense in the first quarter alone.
A 17-yard TD run by DeFreitas, who finished with 212 yards rushing on 35 carries, gave the Warriors a 21-3 lead with 3:57 left in the first quarter.
Donald Jackson’s 35-yard field goal put Woodbridge ahead, 24-3, with 10:26 left in the half.
What looked to be a blowout early turned into a game as Beckman (2-5, 1-1) chipped away at the lead.
A 61-yard touchdown pass from Quinn O’Dell to Nick White pulled Beckman to 24-9. Blake Crandall’s 26-yard touchdown run made it 24-16 with 9:26 left in the third quarter.
But Beckman couldn’t come up with that key play to score again.
DeFreitas and quarterback Matt Callahan had crucial carries for first downs for Woodbridge to run out the clock.
DeFreitas, who also started on defense for the first time this season, finished with 212 yards rushing on 35 carries.

Woodbridge drops 4th consecutive game

Turnovers help Northwood stun Woodbridge

October 06, 2012 12:18 AM

By TIM BURT

OCVARSITY.COM

IRVINE - Northwood opened Pacific Coast League play upsetting preseason league favorite Woodbridge, 21-10, Friday night at Irvine High.
"Our kids played really well, but they're a great football team," said Northwood coach Rick Curtis. "We played pretty much mistake-free football, and that's what we needed to do.
"We had no turnovers, and our defense played lights-out. That offense is unbelievable."

Quarterback Kevin Norman led the charge, scoring two touchdowns and throwing for another to lead the Timberwolves (2-4, 1-0).
Norman passed for 153 yards and rushed for 81 yards.
"We just stepped up; our role players really played a big part in this," Norman said. "Our offensive line did a great job, and our running back John Edmond and our tight end Jonathan Albright made some great plays. The defense stepped up big, too; it was a team effort.
"It's a huge win for us. No one picked us to win. We just came out and shocked the world."
Woodbridge (2-4, 0-1) cut the lead to 21-10 when quarterback Matt Callahan connected with David McCutchan on a 15-yard TD with 11:09 left in the game.
Later in the quarter, the Warriors moved the ball to the Northwood 30-yard line, but on a fourth-and-9 play with 2:33 remaining, Norman, at who also plays defensive back, knocked down a pass attempt in the end zone to seal the victory.
"We had three turnovers in critical situations, one when we were going in for a score," Woodbridge coach Rick Gibson said. "We just haven't done that all year and they capitalized. They had no turnovers. My hat is off to their coaches and players."
Norman put Northwood ahead when he scored on a 1-yard keeper with 5:55 left in the first quarter. He also scored on an 8-yard TD run with 8:38 left in the second quarter to give the Timberwolves a 14-0 lead.
Northwood then moved ahead, 21-0, when Norman hooked up with Albright on a 5-yard TD pass with 2:56 left in the second quarter.