Northwood football team has momentum entering CIF Division 6 playoffs

Cole Hidalgo (left) and Joseph Harper led Northwood to a road win Friday. (PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Northwood High School’s football team is heading into the CIF Division 6 playoffs with plenty of momentum.

Coach JC Clarke’s Timberwolves defeated Dana Hills 22-7 Friday night in Dana Point to wrap up Foxtrot League play. The Timberwolves finished 3-2 in league play with victories over Aliso Niguel, Fountain Valley and Dana Hills.

Northwood (8-2 overall) hosts Ayala Friday at 7 p.m. in the CIF playoff opener at Irvine Stadium.

“Ayala is 2-8 but they played Moore League teams,” Clarke said Monday as he was wrapping up practice. “They’re used to playing really big, fast teams. Our kids are playing well, they play hard, the offense has to work on getting a little bit better, but I couldn’t be happier with the kids. They’ve really overachieved this year.”

Clarke was pleased with the Timberwolves effort against Dana Hills.

“That was a big win,” he said.

Northwood was led by seniors Cole Hidalgo, who had two interceptions; Joseph Harper, who had about 150 yards rushing was second in the team in tackles; and Donald Longo, who led the team in tackles.

“I couldn’t be happier, I’m so jazzed these kids have competed at a higher level than they’ve been in,” Clarke said. “Our two losses were by two points and four points.”

Northwood’s only losses game to Laguna Beach (7-6) and Orange (10-6). The game against Orange was a league game.

The winner of Friday’s game moves on to face the winner of the Murrieta Mesa-Ontario Christian game in the second round.

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