PHOTOS: Northwood completes mission with victory over Trabuco Hills in CIF Division 2 final

Northwood players celebrate after winning the CIF Division 2 title Saturday. (PHOTOS: Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).

Northwood High School’s girls flag football team used a familiar formula Saturday afternoon to capture a 31-17 victory over Trabuco Hills in the CIF Division 2 championship game at Fred Kelly Stadium.

The Timberwolves (19-6) displayed outstanding defense recording three interceptions and a big play offense to defeat a talented Trabuco Hills team in the inaugural season of CIF girls flag football playoffs.

“Definitely the defense stepped up and again, it wasn’t any one person in particular, it was a real team effort,” said Northwood Coach Mike Stewart. “Everybody contributed on defense, we had a couple of hiccups, they had some really great plays and some great athletes but we were able to counter that and adjust.”

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Rebekah Welch, Sailor Kensrue and Natalie Keith had the picks for Northwood, which won its ninth game in a row.

Northwood’s offense was led by Keith, the junior quarterback, who threw five touchdown passes including two each to Elisa Kung and two to Hailey Brennan.

“We’ve worked so hard this whole season and for it to all pay off right now, it just feels great,” Keith said. “Just staying relaxed and playing the game that we’ve been playing all through the bracket (was the difference). We’ve been rolling through the bracket and I feel like we had the momentum and took it and ran with it.”

While two receivers each had two scores, the plan was to “throw it to whoever was open,” said Keith. “They happened to be open.”

Trabuco Hills, which came in with a nine-game winning streak, battled until the end, closing the gap to 14 points late in the game when quarterback Elizabeth Tapper connected with Emma Ortiz for a touchdown. Ortiz also hauled in the two-point conversion.

The Mustangs (17-4) got the ball back one more time but were unable to score.

“They’re a good team, they came out and were physical, we’re a good team too, I think we just didn’t execute some of the things we’re really good at,” said Trabuco Hills Coach Richard Metzdorff. “We turned the ball over too much, I feel like I probably didn’t make the right play call there at the goal line in the first half, turning it over on the one foot line, that can’t happen.”

Northwood went into the half with a 13-9 lead.

“Going into the half, that was an opportunity for us to get the lead and we didn’t get it and then I think we started pressing in the second half,” the coach said. “Defensively, we just didn’t make enough plays. But we have a lot of juniors and our quarterback is a freshman quarterback so we’re going to be back next year. I fully intend for this team to contend for the the title next year. Look out for Trabuco Hills.”

Northwood scored on its opening drive when Keith hit Kung on a 15-yard TD pass. The teams traded interceptions. Trabuco Hills got the ball back and tied the game up when Ortiz took a pitch and scored a TD.

Keith and Kung hooked up on a 39-yard touchdown pass to put Northwood ahead 13-7. But on the conversion, the Mustangs Madeline Hales intercepted the ball and returned it all the way to the end zone for two points.

The Timberwolves came out fired up in the second half. Keith hit Brennan on two touchdown passes and sealed the win with a touchdown pass to Hannah Kim with 8:37 left, capping a memorable final.

“We knew we would come out here and play as hard as we can and we did that, the score proves it,” said Kung. “I had a really good feeling we would win. We prepared a lot this past week for them this week, we watched a lot of film so I knew we would come out strong.”

Stewart credited Keith, the quarterback, for leading the team.

“She was on and it’s obviously a huge advantage for us because a lot of teams don’t face a quarterback like that, it’s hard to prepare, she’s only a junior,” Stewart said.

Stewart was also thrilled to lead the team in the inaugural season of the CIF playoffs. He had been an assistant this season, but assumed head coaching roles this week because head coach Harry Lee had a previous commitment.

“It’s great to be part of it, especially for the kids,” he said. “What a great group of girls. I made the decision to come over from the boys side to coach the girls and I told them after the game that it was one of the best athletic decisions I’ve ever made. It was so fun. Win, lose or draw today, it was great.”

A large contingent of Northwood fans congratulated the Timberwolves after they left the field. Northwood knocked off two teams who were seeded in the top four on the way to the championship.

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