PHOTOS: Northwood celebrates first CIF title with victory over Jordan

Northwood players, coaches and cheerleaders celebrate with the CIF championship plaque after Friday’s win. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).

Northwood’s football team wasn’t about to let an early deficit deter it from achieving the ultimate goal Friday night in the CIF Division 11 championship game vs. Long Beach Jordan at Irvine Stadium.

After falling behind by seven points after one quarter, the Timberwolves took charge and captured a 37-14 victory over the Panthers for the first CIF football title in school history. Northwood fell short in the title game in 2005 but was determined to bring home its first crown Friday night much to the delight of hundreds of alumni and Northwood’s first coach Rick Curtis, who coached the team in the 2005 finals vs. Tesoro.

“What a great retirement I’ve had so far,” said Northwood’s first year head coach JC Clarke, who was named Northwood’s coach in the summer and was planning to return as an assistant coach. He’s retired as a teacher.

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Jordan, making its first appearance in the finals, came out fast out of the gate. Damian Henderson returned the opening kickoff 53 yards to the Northwood 22-yard line. Then later in the drive, quarterback Makhi Travis connected with Jeremy McGurn on an 18-yard TD pass.

“We like to give that first one up, that’s our general rule, I guess,” Clarke said. “They played good defense after that. They scored quickly and we made an adjustment. They like to throw to that tight end and we put a faster kid on him and got some sacks and that third quarter was unbelievable.”

The defense was particularly solid against Jordan’s rushing game, holding the Panthers to five yards. Travis, a junior, had some big completions, passing for 163 yards but Adam Harper and Kamel Danial had interceptions for Northwood. And the Northwood defense had a safety in the third quarter that put the Timberwolves ahead 30-7.

Harper, in addition to playing every down on defense, had another outstanding game, rushing for 214 yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns for Northwood (9-5). Quarterback Eugene Miyata scored on two TD runs and had a 10-yard TD pass to Joseph Harper (Adam Harper’s younger brother) which put Northwood ahead 14-7 in the second quarter. Miyata passed for 37 yards.

“Eugene has done a great job,” Clarke said. “The line did a great job. I’m just so happy for the kids and the coaches. We only have five but we know what we’re doing.

“Adam is a special young man, his brother is going to be another special young man. We tried to get him (Adam) to come off on defense, he would not come off. He’s just a real competitior.”

Harper was elated to contribute to the victory on both sides of the ball. His 37-yard TD early in the fourth quarter put Northwood ahead 37-7.

“We started off with that touchdown in the beginning,” Harper said. “That’s kind of how we started against Vista Del Lago, but our defense stepped up and we shut them down afterwards and we really came together and I’m really proud of our team. I tried my best to make some plays (on defense) with the opportunities I get.”

“I’m shocked, I’m feeling a mix of emotions right now,” added Miyata, the Northwood quarterback. “I’m happy, I’m proud, I’m really proud of the linemen. The linemen did their job today.”

Joseph Harper had four catches for 33 yards for the Timberwolves.

Northwood won despite losing the ball three times on fumbles. The Timberwolves led 14-7 on their way to their seventh straight win.

The players celebrated with students, who poured onto the field following the trophy presentation.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com