The Woodbridge High defense flexed its muscles early and often to boost the Warriors to a 35-14 victory over Cypress in a nonleague game Friday night at University High.
After a shaky offensive start, the Woodbridge defense came up with two huge first quarter turnovers to turn the tide of the game.
The Warriors, ranked No. 3 in a preseason CIF Division 8 poll, settled into place and capitalized on four Cypress miscues. Woodbridge defensive back Elyjah Rush returned a pair of interceptions deep into the Centurions territory to set up two first quarter touchdowns. The senior defensive back nearly had two other interceptions in the game.
Midway through the first quarter, Rush returned his first interception 38 yards to the Cypress 12. Two plays later he raced into the end zone giving Woodbridge (1-0) a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Rush picked off his second pass and returned it 29 yards. Two plays later, quarterback Kyle Hurry scored from 14 yards to make it a 14-0 Warriors lead.
“We needed to come out and play as a team tonight and we accomplished that,” said Rush. “Playing as a team has been our biggest challenge, but now we’re rolling and we have to get ready for El Mo at their place next week.”
Hurry, a wide receiver on last year’s team started his first varsity game at QB and completed seven passes for 116 yards and a TD. He also rushed for two touchdowns.
The Warriors defense, led by Colin Turner, Rush, Max Tipple and Kyle Wray continued to dominate in the second quarter. Woodbridge picked off two more passes and scored three more touchdowns in a span of 4:30 to break the game open 35-0 at halftime.
Hurry tossed a 69-yard TD pass to Jacob Nash and Dylan Hutton returned an interception 46 yards for a score to highlight the Warriors scoring onslaught.
Woodbridge returned to wearing their traditional red jerseys, avenged a 33-3 loss at the hands of the Centurions from last season. The Warriors’ defense limited Cypress to 90 yards in the opening half.
“Our defense played a heck of game,” Woodbridge coach Rick Gibson. “Anytime you force turnovers and play on a short field it makes things a lot easier. We also tackled really well tonight.”
Cypress played without their star runningback Isaac Hurtado who is recovering from an ACL injury he sustained in a playoff game last season.
The Centurions added two second half touchdowns on a Jayden Guthrie TD pass and a Corey Anesi touchdown run.
“I’m disappointed,” said Cypress coach Rick Feldman. “They were more physical than we were on both sides and we played an awful first half, but that is partly due to their pressure.”
STATS
CYP 00 00 07 07 – 14
WHS 14 21 00 00 – 35
Rushing: Cyp, Calvo, 13-60, Crenshaw 8-41
Wood, Rush 5-50, Prince 7-28
Passing: Cyp, Guthrie, 8-20-3, 80, 1 TD; Crenshaw, 2-9-1, 6 yards
Wood, Hurry, 7-13-0, 116 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Cyp, Bojorquez 2-42, Crenshaw, 2-25
Wood Nash 2-78, Prince 2-23
-Tom Connolly, for OC Sports Zone
More Stories
CIF baseball playoff highlights and final scores for OC teams Thursday, May 2
Santa Ana football coach Rory Schoonmaker resigns to accept job at El Segundo
Top OC seeds, key first round games for CIF baseball playoffs (brackets)