PHOTOS: Woodbridge knocks off top-seeded Saddleback, advances to CIF D13 final

Woodbridge players and Coach Connor McBride celebrate after Friday’s CIF semifinal victory over Saddleback. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Woodbridge’s football coaches and players kept believing despite a rough start to the 2025 season.

That faith paid off in a trip to the CIF Division 13 championship game next weekend on the road against Montebello.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Woodbridge secured a berth with a 24-21 victory over Saddleback in the semifinals Friday night at Saddleback. It’s the first time since 1998 that Woodbridge has been in the CIF finals, the same year that first-year coach Connor McBride was born. Rick Gibson, now an assistant coach with McBride, led Woodbridge to the CIF Division VI title that year.

Woodbridge started the season 0-7.

Woodbridge (5-8) built a 21-0 halftime lead before top-seeded Saddleback (10-3) came charging back in the second half to make it close.

“I mentioned this early in the year when we were 0-7, I have guys who do not give up,” a jubiliant McBride said after the game. “They know how to face adversity and life lessons and it showed tonight, they took it to us early in the second half but we were still able to trust in the process, trust in the game plan and ultimately pull out the game. They’ve been able to face adversity and that’s really been the theme of the season so they deserve to be here.

“That was some of the best football we’ve played in the first half, everything was going our way, we came out with a positive mindset in the second half to keep the foot on the pedal but they came out and made some big plays …. and props to them, they made it a really good game.”

Saddleback Coach Rob Thompson had high hopes for his team. The Roadrunners were trying to reach a CIF final for the first time since 1985, when they won the CIF title, the only one for the program.

But Saddleback came out flat in the first half and was unable to recover.

“I thought we played the worse first half we played all season,” Thompson said. “It was terrible, we played really good the second half, if we had played like that in the first half we would have won the game. It was too big of a hole to get out of against a team like that.

“I give it up to the kids, they didn’t give up, they fought as hard as they could, like I said, the first half was probably our worst half we’ve played all season. Hard to come back from that in a semifinal game. Everything I thought they were going to do, they did.”

Quarterback Andre Scott led Saddleback, completing 10 of 22 passes for 133 yards and three touchdown passes and one interception. He also rushed for 75 yards on seven carries.

But Woodbridge was more consistent on offense from the start.

Woodbridge’s freshman quarterback Waylon Stone had his best game of his young career, completing 14 of 20 passes for 186 yards while rushing for 53 yards on 13 carries.

“We got off to a strong start, obviously in the second half it didn’t really go our way, but we made plays when we needed it and I can’t say enough about Fabian Gray and his field goal to win it,” Stone said. “We knew we had to come out to a strong start, semifinals playoff and we knew they were going to come out to a strong start, I’ll give applause to them. I think we came out and punched them in the mouth.

“It’s all I’ve dreamed for my whole life, I think it’s a very surreal experience. I believe in our team always.”

Running back David Bosely, who was also outstanding on defense, had 50 yards on eight carries and scored on touchdown runs of 16 and 9 yard in the second quarter to give Woodbridge an early lead. He also hauled in five catches for 54 yards.

“It was amazing, I feel like this was a really defining moment for our team, especially offensively, we were really unstoppable and I got to give credit where credit is due, our O-line was amazing especially on those running touchdowns with me on two and Waylon on one,” Bosley said. “The line was just blocking their lives out, it was just amazing.”

Stone’s 4-yard TD run put Woodbridge ahead 21-0 at halftime.

Saddleback got back into the game in the third quarter when quarterback Andre Scott connected with TD passes for 4 and 27 yards to Andrew Alvarez to cut the lead to 21-14, the first in the third quarter and second score coming early in the fourth quarter.

Woodbridge kicker Fabian Grey gave the Warriors some breathing room when he kicked a 20-yard field goal with 4:16 left in the game to make it 24-14.

But Saddleback responsed on its next drive when Scott connected with Andrik Valenzuela on a 46-yard TD pass with 3:09 left to cut the lead to 24-21. The Roadrunners tried an onside kick, but were called for a penalty and Woodbridge, with a key run by Kayjahn Pitts, was able to run out the clock. Pitts finished with 38 yards rushing on nine carries.

Woodbridge receiver Jalen Webb had a big game as well with six catches for 57 yards. Linebacker Hunter King had an interception for Woodbridge.

Back-up quarterback Joey Coykendall came on the second half and had two completions after Stone was temporarily sidelined with cramps.

It was a jubilant group of Warriors, including former head coach Gibson and assistant coach John Halagan.

“It’s nice to see he was born that year (1998),” Gibson said. “It’s nice for him in this first year to feel this. He’s done a lot in such a short period of time starting in January, so hats off to him and hats off to these kids for believing in him and believing in themselves. You always believe, you always believe you can do things. You never stop going until they tell you you can’t play anymore.”

Montebello defeated La Puente 43-36 in the other semifinal. Day for the game will be announced by CIF, either Friday or Saturday. Montebello (6-6) will be the home team.

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